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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


•^ 


\ 


;v 


:\ 


\ 


l\ 


o^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


:\ 


T«ehnieal  and  ■ibiiographie  Notaa/Notaa  taehniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Thai 
toth 


Tha  Instituta  haa  anamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  fliming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
eopv  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  tignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□   Colourad  covara/ 
CoMvartura  da  ooulour 


r~n   Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagia 


□   Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raatauria  at/ou  palliculAa 

□   Covar  titia  miaaing/ 
La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


|~~|   Colourad  mapa/ 


Cartaa  giographiquaa  ti  coulaur 


□   Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  blacli)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  biaua  ou  noira) 

n~|   Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  ti  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RalM  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  re  liura  aarria  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatoralon  la  long  da  la  marga  intiriaura 

Blank  taavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibla.  thasa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  aa  f.^ut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajoutiaa 
lora  d'una  raatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
mala,  loraqua  cala  itait  poaaibla,  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  «t«  fiimiaa. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  suppl^mantairaa: 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm^  la  maiilaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lul  a  At*  poaaibla  da  aa  procurer.  Laa  dAtaiia 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua.  qui  pauvant  modifiar 
una  imaga  raproduita.  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  da  filmaga 
aont  indiquAa  ci-daaaoua. 


□  Colourad  pagaa/ 
Pagaa 


S 


Pagaa  da  coulaur 

Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagAaa 

Pagaa  raatorad  and/oi 

Pagaa  raataurAaa  at/ou  pallicuMaa 

Pagaa  diacolourad,  stainad  or  foxai 
Pagaa  dAcoloriaa,  tachatiaa  ou  piquAaa 

Pagaa  datachad/ 
Pagaa  ditachtas 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparanca 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  in^gaia  da  I'impraaaion 

Includaa  aupplamantary  matarii 
Comprand  du  material  aupplimantaira 

Only  adition  availabia/ 
Saula  idition  diaponibia 


r~n  Pagaa  damagad/ 

r~1  Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 

r^f  Pagaa  diacolourad,  atainad  or  foxad/ 

rn  Pagaa  datachad/ 

r~^  Showthrough/ 

p~|  Quality  of  print  variaa/ 

rn  Includaa  aupplamantary  matarial/ 

I — I  Only  adition  availabia/ 


Tha 
poai 
oftr 
film! 


Grig 
bagi 
thai 
alon 
otha 
firat 
aion 
or  ill 


Tha 
ahal 
TINI 
whl« 

Man 

dlff« 
antii 
bagI 
righ 
raqii 
mat 


Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauaa,  ate  hava  baan  raf  limed  to 
anaure  the  beat  poaaible  image/ 
Lea  pagea  totaiament  ou  partiellement 
obacurciea  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  una  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  AtA  filmtea  A  nouveau  da  fa^on  A 
obtanir  la  mailleure  imaga  poaaible. 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  filmi  au  taux  da  reduction  indiquA  ci-dea(,oua. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 


12X 


16X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


TlM  oopy  f  ilm«d  h«r«  Hm  b««n  r«pro«luo«d  thanks 
to  th«  g«n«rotity  of: 

liatk  Walton  KillMn  MMiwrial  Library 
DalhOMiia  Unlvartity 

Tho  imagoo  appoaring  Haro  ara  tha  boat  quality 
poaalbia  consldaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  oopy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  tpaeiflcationa. 


Original  copias  In  printad  papar  eovaro  ara  fllmad 
baglnning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impraa- 
tlon.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  approprlata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  fllmad  baglnning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliuatratad  impras- 
sion,  snd  snding  on  tha  last  paga  wHh  a  printad 
or  illustrstad  imprassion. 


L'axamplaira  film*  f ut  raproduH  grica  A  la 
g4n4roolt«  da: 

ISMk  Walton  Klllam  Msmorlal  Library 
DalhotMia  Univsnity 

Laa  imagaa  sulvsntss  ont  4tA  raproduitaa  avao  la 
plus  grand  soln,  oompta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattatA  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fllmaga. 

Las  axampkiiras  origlnaux  dont  la  couvartura  sn 
paplar  aat  imprlmte  sont  fllmte  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarmlnant  salt  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illustratlon.  solt  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  laa  autras  axampiairas 
origlnaux  sont  fllmte  an  commandant  par  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illustratlon  at  an  tarmlnant  par 
la  darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  taiia 
amprainta. 


Tha  last  recorded  frama  on  aach  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  dee  symbolee  suh^ants  apparaltra  sur  la 
darnlAre  Image  do  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  la  aymbola  -^  signifle  "A  8UIVRE",  le 
symbols  ▼  signifle  "FIN". 


IMaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  mey  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposurs  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  dee  taux  da  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  soul  ciichA,  11  est  fiimA  A  partir 
da  i'angia  supArieur  gauche,  do  geuche  A  droite, 
et  do  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaira.  Les  diagrammae  suivants 
iliustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

/} 


Jjd .  hiitry^^ 


Life  of  John,  Lord  Campbell. 


I 


«■•<  >.»  w  »i>U..Ki4  mwtim 


m-'EB  (S,Am\Fl&'^\L\L 


I 


T 1 1 F 


Kl.l  : 


LI  \  i:s 


OV 


CHANCHLLORS 


AND 


nil-:  (JKHAT- SliAI. 


»K 


\\1>. 


v3    DAUOH-iHR.    THE 


I  i,r 


) ' 


't)RlRAIT. 


01.    Xi 


DERICK    I 


)     ( 


iN  CO 


1881 


LIVES 


or 


THE   LORD  CHANCELLORS 


AND 


KEEPERS  OF  THE  GREAT  SEAL 


'il 


OF 


ENGLAND. 


CONTINUATION    BY    LORD    CAMPBiCtL'S    DAUGHTER,    THE 


HON.  MRS.  HARDCASTLE. 


AMERICAN  EDITION— WITH  PORTRAIT. 


VOL.   XL 


JERSEY  CITY : 
FREDERICK   D.  LINN    &    CO. 

1881. 


PREFACE. 


My  Fatiiku'h  wonU  niono  hnvn  iMHiii  ummI  in  tho  (X)ni|MMi- 
tlon  of  tho  tollowiii);  ihi^ch.  Thu  inatoriiilM  in  my  luuitlM  con- 
»\hUh\  of  nil  Aiitol>io);m|iliy,  Ix'gun  in  1HI2,  tho  ynir  uHcr  he 
lofl  tho  l)ur,  uml  curried  on  nt  intorvulH  to  thu  year  lHt7;  u 
Journal,  in  which  ho  niiulu  (M'ciwionul  cntricH  from  1817  <iown 
to  tho  your  of  hi^  (Utvth  ;  and  a  Hcrii'M  of  hittcrH  to  his  Kuthcr 
and  hiM  Hrothcr  from  tho  timo  li*;  l«>ft  Hcotlaud,  at  tho  a)*v  of 
oightiton,  till  tho  roM|H>('tivo  (hnithri  of  hio  two  oorroHpondcntM. 
From  tluwj  Houroofl  I  havo  oi»U?avoro<l  to  form  a  coiuploto 
narrutivo,  UHiiig  tho  Momoirn  or  tlio  Ijottcrn  according  an  each 
Hconiod  to  ti^ll  tho  Htory  lM>Ht. 

My  chief  diflioulty  has  lM!«n  to  mako  Hiioh  HcloctionH  and 
omisHionH  i\n  wore  noc^>MHary  to  koo|>  tho  work  within  rcasonahlo 
limitM;  and  if,  at  iirwt,  thcHo  may  Moom  to  havo  In'on  oxccoiloil, 
it  hIiouUI  Ih!  ronioml)orod  that  my  Father  lived  till  ho  wu8 
nearly  oighty-two,  without  having;  had  ono  day  of  retirement 
or  idlono«H ;  that  from  tho  timo  ho  camo  to  Ijondoii,  in  tlio  year 
1708,  h<!  iK'gan  to  watch  and  to  rw'ord  politiotd  ovontw;  and 
that  for  the  huit  thirty  years  of  \m  life  ho  was  uuuHtuntly 
employed  in  important  public  duties. 

All  remarks  or  comraentfl  of  my  own  I  have  avoided,  feeling 
iliat  it  would  be  unbecoming  in  mo  to  bestow  either  praise  or 


v{ 


I'UKFACK. 


MariM!  upon  my  Futher,  niul  Ixiyond  my  power  to  piifw  any  judg- 
ment on  his  professional  career.  I  trust,  liowever,  that  these 
vohinu's  may  present  something  like  an  adequate  picture  of  his 
unwtariod  ituhistry,  his  faithful  devotion  to  duty,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  of  the  geniality  and  tcnderno-ss  which  distinguished 
his  private  life,  and  made  him  beloved  by  all  who  belonged  to 
liim. 

MaUV   SCARLETI'  HaKDCASTLE. 


64  Queeb's  Qatk  Terbacb, 
December.  1880 


CONTENTS 


or 


THE    FIRST    VOLUME 


CHAPTER  I. 

Beptbmbeb,  1779— March,  1798. 

Genealogy — Birth— Childhood — Cupar  Grammar  School — University  of  St. 
Andrews — Dr.  John  Hunte.- — Henry  Hill — ProfosHor  Barron — Profegsor 
Cook — Dr.  James  Brown — Death  of  his  Mother — The  General  Assembly 
— Dr.  George  Hill — Dr.  Forrest— St.  Mary's  College— Professor  Wilson — 
Goes  as  Tutor  to  Mr.  Craigie  of  Glendoick — Leaves  St.  Andrews.    Page  1 

CHAPTER  II. 

March,  1798—Januart,  1800. 

Journey  to  London — Goes  to  Mr.  Webster  as  Tutor  to  his  Son — Debate  in  the 
House  of  Commons  on  the  Slave  Trade — First  Letters  to  his  Father  and 
Brother — Writes  for  the  'Oracle'  and  the  'Annual  Register' — Five  days' 
Ramble— Proposes  to  become  a  Lawyer  instead  of  a  Scots  Minister — 
Engagement  with  the  '  Morning  Chronicle* — Leaves  the  Websters.    .    31 


CHAPTER  in. 

January,  1800— August.  1802. 

Takes  Lodgings  in  Tavistock  Row,  Covent  Garden — Departure  of  his  Brother 
for  the  East  Indies — Trial  of  Hadfield — First  Visit  to  Scotland — Return 
to  London  by  Sea — Moves  to  Stanhope  Street,  Clare  Market — Enters  at 
Lincoln's  Inn — Takes  Chambers  in  Lincoln's  Inn — Reports  Parliamentary 
Debates — Administration  of  Mr.  Addington — Excursion  to  Margate  and 
Brighton — Preliminaries  of  Peace  With  France — News  of  his  Brother — 
Trial  of  Governor  Wall — Treaty  of  Amiens — Contest  for  the  County  of 

Kent — Proposal  to  visit  Paris 48 

(vii) 


•  •t 

vni 


WNTENTO  OK   FlIWT  VOI.UME 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Adoust,  1802— Deoeuber,  1803. 

Letter!*  from  Calais,  Paris  and  the  Haguo — Return  to  London — Remarks  on 
Reporting — Speakers  in  the  House  of  Commons  and  House  of  Lords- 
Dramatic  Criticism — Trial  of  Colonel  Do«pard — Plan  for  a  Continental 
Tour  with  Mr.  Rigg,  of  Tarvot — Renewal  of  Hostilities  with  France- 
He  joins  the  Bloomsbury  and  Inns  of  Court  Volunteers — Gives  up 
Reporting  Law — Visit  to  Scotland — Return  Journey  by  the  Lakes, 
Liverpool  and  Manchester — Fear  of  a  French  Invasion.  .       .    Page  97 

CHAPTER  V. 

Jasuabt,  1804— Deoembeb,  1804. 

Becomes  a  Pupil  of  Mr.  Tidd  the  Special  Pleader — Debating  Society  in 
Tidd's  Office — Denraan — Copley — Pepys — 'The  Academical' — Charles  and 
Robert  Grant — 'The  Athenians' — Brownley — Adolphus — Spankie — Wilde 
— Horace  Twias — Madness  of  the  King — The  Mahratta  War — Resigna- 
tion of  Addington  and  Return  of  Pitt  to  Power — Account  of  Special 
Pleading — Takes  Chambers  in  the  Inner  Temple — Tax  on  Special  Plead- 
ing— Middlesex  Election — Agrees  to  Stay  Two  Years  Longer  in  Tidd's 
Office— The  Young  Roscius 136 

CHAPTER  VI. 

March,  1805— November,  1808. 

Second  Year  in  Tidd's  Office — Resolutions  in  the  House  of  Commons  Con- 
demning Lord  Melville's  Conduct — Excursion  to  Cambridge  with  Mr. 
Griadale— David  Wilkie — Takes  a  Month's  Holiday  and  goes  to  Scotland 
— Gives  up  his  Engagement  with  the  '  Morning  Chronicle' — Erskine  Lord 
Chancellor — Wilkie's  'Village  Politicians' — Lord  Melville's  Trial — Visit 
to  the  Isle  of  Wight  with  Mr.  Tancred — Proposed  at  Lincoln's  Inn  by 
Sir  Vicary  Gibbs- Called  to  the  Bar 168 

CHAPTER  VII. 

December,  1806— December,  1807. 

His  First  Term- His  Clerk— Engaged  to  Write  a  Book  on  the  Law  of  Part- 
nership— Attends  the  Surrey  Sessions — The  Home  Circuit — Fielding— 
Bolland— Garrow — Serjeant  Shepherd — Serjeant  Best — Lawcs- Marryat 


CONTENTS  OF  FIRST  VOLUME. 


IX 


— Tho  Euke  of  Portland  Succeeds  Lord  Granville  as  Prime  Minister — 
Interview  with  Lord  Breadalbane — Answers  Cases  for  Marryat— Second 
Circuit — Sessions  at  Quildford — In  Low  Spirits  at  Ihe  end  of  his  First 
Year  at  the  Bar — Agreement  with  Butterworth  to  Report  Ni:>i  Prius 
Cases Page  197 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

Jaituaey,  1808— February,  1810. 

First  Number  of  Nisi  Prius  Reports — Sir  Vicary  Qibbs — James  Allan  Park — 
Scarlett— Ournoy — Brougham — Third  Circuit  without  a  Brief— Speech  as 
Couusol  to  oppopo  a  Bill  at  the  Bar  of  the  House  of  Lords — Ilia  Father 
visits  him  in  London — Courts-Martial  at  Chelmsford  and  at  Chelsea — 
Portrait  of  Dr.  Campbell  by  Wilkio — Fourth  Circuit— Publication  of 
Second  Number  of  Reports — His  Clerk  Cooper — Progress  in  Getting  Busi- 
ness— Holds  Briofs  for  Marryat  and  others — Three  Weeks  at  Brighton — 
Anecdotes  of  Michaelmas  Term 222 


CHAPTER  IX.  ' 

March,  1810— December,  1811. 

Changes  to  Oxford  Circuit — Serjeant  Williams — Dauncey — Jervis — Abbott — 
Puller— Olduall  Russell— Clifford— Charles  Phillips— Sir  Fruucis  Bnrdett 
— Sir  Samuel  Rorailly — His  Frionds  Tancred  and  Coltraau— Gloucoetor- 
shiro  Sessions — Braggo  Ealhurst — Ludlow  and  Tauntota — Trial  of  Cob- 
bett — Summer  Circuit — Takes  Chambers  in  Paper  Buildings — Puys  a 
Visit  to  his  Father — Success  at  tho  Gloucestershire  Sessions — Excur- 
sion to  Cambridge  with  Coltman — Brougham's  Defence  of  tho  Hunts — 
Carstairs'  Cause — Increasing  Business  in  King's  Bench  and  on  tho 
Circuit 248 


CHAPTER  X. 

February,  1812 — December,  1814. 

Account  of  the  Spring  Circuit — Assassination  of  Mr.  Perceval — Riiid  into 
Monmouthshire — Victory  at  the  Quarter  Sessions — Gocf  ai  xV.ise-.sor  to 
the  Returning  Officer  at  tho  Cirencester  Election — Lord  Apaley,  Mr. 
Hicks-Beach,  and  Mr.  Cripps — Joseph  Pitt — Brougliam-  fiovner — Lord 
Ellenborough's  Conduct  to  the  Bar — Stays  in  London  througli  t'le  Long 
Vacation,  and  Learns  to  Dance — Disasters  of  Bonaparte — Rejoicings  in 


CONTEN'J"H  OF   FI118T   VOLUME. 

London — Tho  Emperor  Alexaiulor — Case  of  Murder  at  Stafford — Tintern 
Abbey — Meeting  with  his  Fatl»or  at  Cupar — Tlie  now  Actresa,  Miss 
O'Neil— Victory  over  Ellenborough— The  Vorulam  Club.      .    Page  283 


CHAPTER  XI.  V 

January,  1815 — December,  1816. 

Epiphany  Seasions — Wilkio's  '  Distross  for  Rent' — Battle  of  Waterloo — Qif- 
ford'fl  Succosu  on  tl»e  Western  Circuit — Letters  from  Paris — Increase  of 
hia  Business  in  Case-unswuring — Miss  O'Neil  and  Mdilo.  Mars — The 
Waverloy  Novels— Case  before  tho  Master  of  the  RoIl«< — Abbott  made  a 
Judge — Case  of  Webster  against  the  'St.  James's  Chronicle' — Lady 
Frances  Webster — Squabble  with  Sir  Vicary  Gibbs — Lays  down  his 
Reports  and  sets  up  Riding  Horses — Retires  to  Bognor  for  his  Health — 
Publishes  the  last  Number  of  his  Reports 320 


CHAPTER  XII. 

January,  1817— November,  1819. 

Dinner  Party  at  tho  Verulam — His  Pupils — Death  of  Horner — Qifford  made 
Solicitor-General — Arbitration  Case  in  Glamorgausiiire — Thinks  of  get- 
ting into  Parliament- — Return  of  his  Brother  from  India — They  go  the 
Circuit  Together — Visit  to  Cupar,  and  Tour  in  the  Highlands  with  his 
Fatlier  and  Brother — Death  of  Sir  Samuel  Roir.illy — Business  on  the 
Spring  Circuit,  1819 — Gives  up  Attending  Quarter  Sessions — Lanarkshire 
Election  Committee — Portrait  of  Dr.  Campbell  by  Raeburn — Applies  for 
a  Silk  Gown — George  Campbell  buys  Eden  wood,  near  Cupar,  Fife — They 
Travel  Abroad  Together — French  Courts  of  Justice.        .        .        .    350 


CHAPTER  XIII 

January,  1820— Deoembee,  1821. 

Gives  a  Dinner  Party — Inscription  for  Edenwood — Dines  with  Mr.  Scarlett — 
Question  of  Royal  Divorce — P'iuds  the  Course  of  True  Love  does  not  ruii 
Smooth — Ride  Round  the  Regent's  Park — Eton  Montem — His  Suit  is  nol 
Successi'ul — Letters  from  the  Circuit — The  Queen's  Trial — Goes  in  the 
Long  Vacation  to  Paris — Becomes  a  Candidate  for  Brooks's — Bill  Againsi 
the  Queen  Withdrawn — Dull  Christmas  Holidays — Studies  Italian- 
Holds  Briefs  for  Mr.  Scarlett — Brougham,  Denman  and  Queen  Caroline 
— Engagement  to  Miss  Scarlett — Letter  from  Dr,  Campbell  to  Miss  Soar- 


CONTENTS  OF  FIMT  VOLUME. 


— Tintern 

TesB,  Miss 

Page  283 


lett — Coronation  of  King  Qoorgo  IV. — Dinnur  at  Mr.  SuarlottV  to  nioet 
the  Duke  of  OloucoRtor — ArrangomontH  for  the  Wedding  at  Abinger — 
Wedding  Tour— iJettles  in  Duke  Street,  Weatrninster.       .        .    Page  374 


Brloo— Qif- 
!ncroa80  of 
Mars— The 
lott  made  a 
sle'- Lady 
down  his 
B  Health— 
.    320 


fford  made 
nks  of  get- 
'hey  go  the 
with  his 
ess  on  the 
anarkshire 
ApnUes  for 
iFife— They 
.    350 


,  Scarlett— 
DGR  not  rut 
[Suit  is  no' 
Ices  in  tht 
lill  AgainBl 
Italian- 
In  Caroline 
ImIss  Scar- 


CHAPTER  XIV.  • 

Februabt,  1822 — Dkoemdeh,  1824. 

Elected  a  Member  of  Brooks's — Brooks's  Club  and  the  Beeswing  Club — Takes 
his  Wife  to  Scotland — Moots  Canning  at  Abingor  Ilall — Marriage  of 
George  Campbell — Edward  Irving — Takes  a  IIouho  in  New  Street,  Spring 
Gardens — Tour  in  Italy — False  Report  of  the  Death  of  Mr.  Scarlett — 
Gets  the  Load  on  the  Oxford  Circuit— Christening  of  young  George 
Campbell — Judges  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench — Illness  and  Death  of 
Dr.  Campbell 419 


CHAPTER  XV. 

June,  1825— November,  1827  ; 

The  King's  Refusal  to  let  Brougham  have  a  Silk  Gown— Parliamentary  Pros- 
pects— Canvasses  Stafford  for  the  next  General  Election — Dissolution  of 
Parliament  in  May,  182(5 — Stafford  Election — He  is  Defeated — Legal 
Adviser  at  Lichfield  and  Weymouth  Elections — Tour  in  Switzerland — 
Dinner  with  Copley — Death  of  Mary  Bruce — Hard  Life  on  Circuit — 
Negotiations  on  the  Formation  of  Mr.  Canning's  Ministry — Christening 
of  Robert  Scarlett's  Son — Mr.  Scarlett  Appointed  Attorney-General — 
Receives  his  Patent  as  King's  Counsel — Death  of  Mr.  Canning — Long 
Vacation  at  Hastings 439 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

December,  1827 — June,  1830. 

Resignation  of  Lord  Goderich — The  Duke  of  Wellington's  Administration — 
Scarlett  ceases  to  bo  Attorney-General — Real  Property  Commission — 
Speaker  Manners  Sutton — Law  of  Prescription — Sits  for  his  Portrait — 
Dinner  at  the  Duke  of  Gloucester's — Dinner  at  Mr.  Secretary  Feel's — 
Catholic  Emancipation — Death  of  Lady  Scarlett — Report  of  the  Real  Prop- 
erty Commission — Offer  of  a  Puisne  Judgeship — Illness  of  King  George 
IV. — Holland  House — Duchess  of  Gloucester — Death  of  George  IV.  464 


LIFE 


or 


LORD  CAMPBELL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Septembkb,  1779— March,  1798. 

Genealogy — Birth— Childliood — Cupar  Qrainmar  School — University  of  St. 
Andrews — Dr.  .John  Huntor — Henry  Hill — ProfesHor  Barron — Profegsor 
Cook — Dr.  James  Brown — Doath  of  his  Mother — The  General  Agsembly 
— Dr.  George  Hill — Dr.  Forre.st — St.  Miiry'H  College — Professor  WiUon — 
Goes  aa  Tutor  to  Mr.  Craigie  of  Glou'loick — Loaves  St.  Andrews. 

AUTOBIOGl!.ViM!\  . 

New  Street,  Spring  Gardens,  October  27,  1842.''' 

In  a  few  fleeting  yeai'S  my  existence  will  probably  be  known 
only  to  my  immediate  tlescentlants,  l)ut  they  will  be  pleased  and 
they  may  be  improved  by  knowing  the  particulars  of  my  career, 
however  little  lustre  it  may  confer  upon  them.  For  their  amuse- 
ment and  instruction  I  sit  down  to  write  this  simple  narrative. 

According  to  immemorial  usage,  1  must  introduce  my  own  life 
and  adventures  with  some  accoiuit  of  my  ancestors. 

Our  branch  of  the  Campbells  claims  to  be  sprung  from  Donald, 
fourth  .son  of  Archibald  the  second  Earl  of  Argyll,  that  distin- 
guished chieftain  who  conunandcd  the  van  of  the  Scottish  army 
in  the  l)attle  of  Flodden  and  there  fell  with  his  royal  master 
(Sept.  9, 1513). 


*  My  father  began  to  write  this  Memoir  the  year  after  he  had  left  the  bar 
to  become  Lord  Chancellor  of  Ireland.  He  was  at  that  time  out  of  oflSce, 
having  resigned  with  Lord  Melbourne's  Government  in  August,  1841. — Ed. 

VOL.  I.  1 


2  LIFK  OF   LOUD  (AMI'llKLIi. 

Thin  Doimid  entcriKl  into  religion,  and,  through  t\w.  intcroM- 
siun  of  tli<>  hviul  of  \\'m  dun  with  ( 'tmlinal  Wolmy,  won  appointed 
by  l*o|H!  IjtM)  X.  AI)l)ot  of  Cupar  in  tlin  county  of  An^ufl.  His 
vow  of  (H'lihacy  Hcrniwl  an  insnpci'ablc  ohjoi-tion  to  onr  claim,  but 
I  have  clearly  aMccrtaincd  that  Ix'lorc  \u'.  lH><-ainc  a  monk  he  had 
Im'cii  a  soldier,  and  that  having;  In'cn  married  he  left  Ix'hind  him 
U>^itimate  issue.  Jn  the  parish  church  of  Bendochry,  in  tho 
county  of  Anpjs, thcu'c  it*  to  be  read  the  followinjj;  epitaph: 

'Suh  hoc.  Kirciijifiiif/i  innniimeyitu  rrtiherriiiiHn  ac  au/iicf  dexteritatU  vir,  MayiiUr 
Nicoliiui  Campbi-il  (/••  Kethik  comlitiir,  ntjiog  (jtiondam  lercni^itiini  Coinitii  tie 
ArijyU  ex  venerahih  I\ilre  Domina  Dnnaldu  Campheil  Ahhale  tie  Cupro  qui 
obiit  Anno  Domini  16S7.     JEtntia  kuh:  70.'* 

From  this  NiehoUw  Campbell  of  Kethik  (iw  we  assert)  was 
dcscjcnded  George  CumplxiU  my  great-great-grandfather,  who  was 
ruined  in  his  eireumstunees  by  joining  in  a  Ixtnd  as  surety  for  his 
chief  the  first  Marquis  of  Argyll,  beheaded  at  the  Market  Cross 
of  Edinburgli  in  IGGl,  on  a  false  charge  of  having  been  impli- 
cated in  the  ileath  of  King  Charles  I.  My  ancestor's  lands  were 
judicially  sold,  and  with  tin;  wreck  of  his  fortune  he  retired  into 
the  county  of  Fife,  where  he  became  owner  of  the  small  estate 
of  Baltullo  in  the  parish  of  Ceres,  and  of  a  house  in  the  ancient 
city  of  St.  Andrews,  in  M'hich  hi^  resided  till  his  death.  After 
settling  in  Fife  he  was  called  Clh'unberlain  Campbell,  but  how 
he  came  by  this  designation  I  know  not.  The  link  connecting 
him  with  the  Cam])bells  of  Kethik  depends  on  family  tradition, 
Tlie  rest  of  the  pctligree  is  clearly  proved  by  written  documents 
still  extant. 

The  Chamberlain's  eldest  son  John  took  the  degree  of  M.  A. 
at  St.  Andrews  in  the  year  1677  and  gained  the  highest  honors 
of  that  University,  which  then  continued  to  enjoy  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  literary  S])U'ndor  it  had  ac(iuired  under  the  illus- 
trious Buchanan.  But  he  was  of  an  indolent  disposition,  and, 
without  engaging  in  any  jjrolcj^sioii,  he  married  a  lady  of  good 


!! 


*Tlior(^   is  another  monument  in   tlio   panio  church   to  Davitl   Campbell, 
anotlu.T  son  of  tlie  abbot,  dcsignatoJ  '  dc  Dcnhcad.' 


QKNEALOOY. 


family  but  with  no  fortmip,  niid  fontrivod  to  live  on  the  Bcanty 
mcanH  left  him  )>y  his  futhcr.  Those,  such  <is  they  were,  he 
tnuismittod  undiminished  to  his  son  (ieor^e,  my  grandfather,  who 
tliou^h  likewise  distin)i;uished  by  his  love  of  literature,  was 
rcnmrkabh;  for  his  imprudence,  and,  dying  young,  left  his  family 
in  fjrcat  poverty. 

The  »(ldest  son  was  th(!  lleverend  Dr.  fJeorne  CumpljcU,  min- 
ister of  the  Establishetl  (Jhurch  of  Scotland  in  Cupar,  Fife  (my 
father),  who,  without  other  patriniony,  was  inclebted  to  his  father 
for  an  excellent  education  and  a  dyin^  admonition  that  his 
descendants,  although  nuluced  in  the  world,  should  rtscollect  the 
race  from  which  they  were  sprung,  and  should  try  to  regain  the 
position  in  siwlety  which  had  been  hehl  by  their  forhcars.  So 
much  for  n»y  paternal  line.  I  confess  I  have  misgivings  alK)ui 
our  des(U!nt  from  the  Abhof,  knowing  well  from  my  experience 
in  jKKligree  trials  liow  easy  it  is,  giving  one  link,  for  the  claimant 
to  trace  himself  up  to  Alfred,  Charlemagne,  and  the  Greek 
Emperors. 

But  in  the  maternal  line  I  can  really  and  strictly  and  optimd 
fide  dedutxj  my  origin  from  the  kings  of  Scotland.  My  mother 
was  a  Hallyburton,*  descended  from  the  IJarons  of  Ilallyburton. 
Sir  Walter  Ilallyburton,  her  lineal  ancestor,  in  the  year  1440 
was  created  a  peer  by  the  title  of  Lord  Hallyburton,  having 
married  a  daughter  of  llobert  Duke  of  Albany,  llegcnt  of 
Scotland  and  first  prince  of  the  blood.  The  Ilallyburtons  are 
mentioned  in  Sir  David  Dalrymple's  Annals  in  the  lists  of  those 
killed  or  taken  prisonei-s  in  tlie  battle  of  Ilalidon  and  in  the 
battle  of  Durham ;  and  th<.'y  were  a  considerable  knightly  family 
in  the  time  of  the  Bruccs,  although  they  were  not  ennobled  till 
tlieir  alliance  with  the  royal  dynasty  of  the  Stuarts. 

They  did  not  always  show  due  rcs])ect  for  the  rights  of  the 
Church,  but  they  redeemed  themselves  I)y  resolutely  joining  in 
raids  against  the  Piiiglish.  The  jVIcrton  branch  being  involved 
in  a  dispute  with  the  Abbot  of  Dryburgh  in  the  reign  of  James 


iJ  Campbell, 


*Thi8,  like  other  proper  names  of  ancient  families,  has  been  spelt  in  a  great 
variety  of  ways,  Haliburton,  Hallibuit(^n,  Ilalyburton,  Hallyburton,  Ac. 


4  t.ivr.  or  u)rd  campiiki.i.. 

v.,  tht!  iimttM'  witM  n'tVrnil  to  tli(>  Kill^^,  who  by  liin  tltTifi) 
arhitml  dutcd  at  Mtirlin({,  May  H,  15'tr>,  tliiM  |>roiiiiiitii«'s  '\\u\)^- 
niont: 

'  Wli«r<>iiH  Wi>  having?  Iini-n  ailviii>"l  aiiil  Unmvitin  tin'  miiil  Kfiitlitiinn  tlio 
UallibiirtonH,  to  ho  loal.nnd  triio  lnxiiHt  uh'Ii,  \<>\m  N<^tvniiti*  imto  tlx'  hukI 
Abhnyo  for  tlio  imiil«  Ininlii,  ntntit  iiiun  at  urnx'H,  rin<l  ^iioiln  hortli^nirit  a^nln«t 
InKlnnil  \Vi>  lion  ili-ii'loro  •Iimtoo  an<l  oriliiiii  iliitt  ihcy  «liftlMii' ri'ponmiHN'cl 
aiwl  l)ruik  aiiil  otijny  ilio  lauiliit  unci  xtiMMJinK^  tln'y  li»<i  oi'  tlio  ^ui'l  Alil)oyi>, 
pKying  tlui  ii«o  aiiil  woiito:  atiii  tlint  they  hIiuII  Ih'  u<iii<Io  m'rviintii  to  tho  hiii<I 

Vtiiii'riiliil  Kiitlior,  likii  an  tlioy  nnA  tlii'ir  |iiimI lyi'iuii"  wi'io  to  tlii'Himl  Vfiior- 

abil  i''atht'i'  iin>l  Inn  prcMli'ci'NiKiiirx,  ,iii<l  li<>  a  goii<|  iiuk^iir  to  tlu'iii  '  ** 

A  junior  hraixli  ot'  tlii;  llallyltiirfon  I'lmily  \\li!r|i  Im*!  In'«>ii 
lon^  .•4«>ttl(><l  ill  tli*>  Moiitli  ot'S-otiaiid  *'ii<|im|  in  an  Ikiitsh  niarri*'*! 
to  an  aiiftstor  ot'  Sir  Walter  Smtt.  'I'lif  illiistrion'*  poet  and 
iiovi'lJHt  in  tlu'  lull  Idazc  of  liis  lit«'rary  tiiiiit'  wa^  very  vain  of 
his  fonncctioii  with  the  noMc  t'ainily  of  llallylairlon,  prnciirni 
hlniHi'lf  to  Im'  served  lieir  to  this  line  of  his  ancestors,  (|nai'lei'ed 
the  arms  of  llallylxirton  on  his  >hield,  and  |)rinted  a  o^riiealo^i- 
ml  nteinoir,  wliieh  distinctly  shows  my  mother's  pedigree  and 
oiir  common  descent  from  this  ancient  stock. 

My  consinsliip  with  tiie  '  Wizard  of  the  .North,'  liad  it  Im-ch  u 
little  lesH  n'liKtte,  I  should  have  considered  my  chief  family  dis- 
thiction,  howevi'r  clear  the  evidence  mioht  hav<'  heen  of  my 
bein^  a  direct  lineal  d(>s<>eiMJant  of  MacCnIlnm  .M<a'e.  I  liuvu 
often  read  with  atlmiration  the  passage  in  <  iililioii's  meiiioii' of 
hiH  own  life  showing;  ids  passion  for  literary  fame: 

'Tlio  nobility  of  tlio  Siioiu-oih  has  hioii  illiiMtiiitcil  an<l  oiirichcil  hy  tho 
trophioH  of  Murlhorough,  hiil  I  exhort  thoni  to  eon."iili'r  tho  "  Fuoiy  Qiiuen  " 
as  tho  moHt  preciouH  jewol  in  thoir  coronot.' 

Although  I  cuii  truly  say — 

Of  gontio  blood,  part  Hhu<l  in  honor's  cautie, 
Fiach  parent  wprung. 

yet  in  my  early  diiys  I  derivctl  no  credit  or  assistance  from 
ancestry  or  relatives.     I  was  born  in   obscairity,  and    had   to 


* Mimtrehy  of  the  ScoUuh  Border,  by  Sir  Walter  Scott.    Introdmtion,  p.  188. 


PAnRNTAOR. 


liliiction,  p.  188. 


Htru)(^l('  iiftniiiMt  |M>nury  uii«l  ix'^^ltft.  My  iHitcniul  Knuulfiither, 
huviii)(  ^1)1(1  the  I'nUiU'  lit  Hiiltiilln  an<l  tli«>  pro|H!rty  nt  St. 
Andrews  wliU'Ji  liiul  coiiu'  to  liiin  t'ntir  tiio  HrMt  of  tin'  t'nmily 
wlio  M«'ttli>4l  ill  tlir  nMiiitry  ot'  Fit<>,  <li(>(l  iicai'ly  iiiHolvoiit  whilo 
my  I'litlMi'  uiif*  Htill  a  Mtmlcnt  at  the  lliiiv«'i*>*ity  of  Ht.  Ainlivwii. 
The  yoiiii};  man,  liowi'vcr,  had  ^aiiu>«l  ronsidcnililr  (iMtiiictioii 
KM  a  M'liolar,  nnd  hUmhI  lii^li  in  (he  (>Mtimatioii  of  l*rin<'i|ml 
Tiilli(l<>|ili  and  i'riiicipal  Miirisoii,  the  liradn  of  the  two  col- 
h>^i>H  ill  th«>  IJiiivci'Mity,  Upon  their  rcrommi'iidation  he  was 
ap|M)iMt(><l  private  tutor  to  the  mod  of  ('ampiN>ll  of  Carwhiii, 
the  heir  presumptive  to  the  earhlom  of  JiretuhillNUie.  After 
piii^iii^  Home  time  with  his  pupil  at  Armad<ly  in  the  llif^hhinds, 
he  aeeompanied  him  to  Wewtminster  S^'hool,  and  livwl  w^vend 
years  with  him  in  a  house  in  Smith  Street,  WeHtminster,  whieh 
Mas  |)ointed  out  to  me  hy  my  father  himself  when  in  advanee<l 
years  he  visited  ine  in  London,  and  whieh  1  eaniiot  now  paKs 
without  emotion.  This  resideiu-e  of  my  father  in  the  southern 
nu'ti'opnlis,  1  tliiniv,  had  eoiisidemhle  intluenee  upon  my  own 
character  and  destiny.  While  1  waH  yet  a  cliild,  sequestered 
from  all  the  world,  lie  us«l  frequently  to  e.\<'ite  my  (lurioHity 
and  inflame  my  ima^^ination  hy  accounts  of  what  he  had  Hecn 
and  heard  when  visiting;  the  Courts  of  Westminster  Hall,  and 
attendiii).'  in  the  two  IIous<'s  of  Parliament.  1  ivmemher  iM'ing 
jiarticularly  struck  with  his  narrative  of  the  riotH  wliich  t(K)k 
place  on  the  imprisonment  of  IJras  CVoshie,  Lord  Mayor  of 
London,  hy  order  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  of  his  having 
Iwen  present  when  the  leader  of  a  mob,  ('(miing  up  to  the  King's 
ciu'riage,  shouted  out,  '  (ieorge !  Where  is  the  J^ord  Mayor? 
Give  us  up  the  Jiord  Mayor.'  * 

Mv  father  was  freoiieutlv  at  the  house  of  the  Earl  of  IJreadal- 
bane,  M'lio  laudably  took  a  lively  iuterest  in  the  education  of  his 
successor,  and  at  this  distinguished  nobleman's  table  he  met  the 
most  eminent  men  who  then  flourished.     It  was  probably  from 

*Thi'<  occurred  in  1771  in  consoquonco  of  Bras  Crosbio  having  committed 
a  mosRonger  of  the  House  of  Commons  to  prison  for  arresting  one  Miller,  a 
printer,  witliout  tiie  order  of  a  magistrate. — Ed. 


6 


i.ir»'.  oi*  umit  v.Kui'uv.i.h, 


thtjt  iiit«rii)iirm>  with  tlit<  Im«i  MK'iiiy  that  my  liithtr  iin|uirt*il 
thu  iHtliMlicil  iiiiiiiiifi-M  lor  wliii-li  III'  wiiM  ri'iiiurkiilil*'.  Wliilit  in 
I^Mitlou  III'  jNiiil  y;n'itt  atti'iitiDii  to  \\\v  ii)rn'«-t  prDniitiriatioii  of 
till*  Kii^lif>li  laiiKua({i',  ami  ho  tiir  miki'iiiIiiI  that  iiti  Kiii^liHliiiian 
who  hail  viMittil  ('ii|Hir  wln'ii  he  wum  M>((ln|  ihri-c  a^  tiiiniHti'r 
atlcrwat'il)"  Hiiil  to  hh',  'hi'*  ilialrct  nuiiiNii-nl  to  that  of  hi» 
INirinhioiiiTM  wiuN  liki'  |iiiii'H  of  piNI  mmioh^  ro|)|M'r/ 

111  till'  ytiir  1771  lir  ii'l'i  lii^  |>ii|>>l>  tht'ii  |iri'|taitil  lor  tlii« 
rtiivcrNity  ;  hut  an  iiitiniati'  iiihI  allirtioimtt'  iiiti'rroiii'M>  wan 
ki'pt  ('«»  iM'twi'i'ii  thi'iii,  aiiit  HiilthiHtiHl  when  tliu  Wi'MtiiiiiiHli'r 
Si'htKtl  iHty  hail  Ihtoiih'  Mai'(|iiiH  of  np'MlallHiiiu  and  llla^tl'r  of 
Tayiiioiith  ('af*tli>. 

Mv  tiwiiir  HiMtii  at'tir  liin  ntiini  to  his  native  coiintiv  tiMik 
onli'r>«,  anil  was  iinhirti'il  into  the  living  of  mfoiiil  niiniHtrr  in 
the  iiilh'ffiatc  rliai'Ki'  of  ( 'upar,  in  tin'  roimty  of  Kifr.  Tho 
Hti|M>nil  dill  not  then  I'xii'iil  i.'H(>  a  yoar  without  niaiiMi'  or  )(lt'lM>. 
With  this  slcntli'i-  iiiroiiK'  he  hooti  married  ;  hut  iiiv  mother  wtM 
itaiHidered  an  heiress,  having  a  fortune  of  Xl^AH).*  She  huU 
reei'iviil  the  very  In'st  fenude  education  whieh  Si-otiand  eouhl 
then  atl'ord,  and,  us  I  often  heard,  was  eejelirated  for  the  f^rucu 
with  whieli  she  daneiil  the  itiniiot  ilr  In  rout.  Hut  she  wnii 
likewise  distin^^uishiil  for  her  piety,  and  I  ean  myself  testify 
that  to  inetileate  the  prineiples  and  precepts  of  reli^^ion  ii|M)n  her 
children  was  her  chief  care  in  life  and  in  death. 

My  {Hirents  iN'cupicd  the  house  next  to  the  Hell  Inn,  at  tho 
corner  (»f  the  street  which  crosses  the  Kden  j'rom  the  Kdinhiirgh 
road.  In  this  house  was  I  horn  on  the  loth  day  of  S'ptember, 
177!>,  in  the  midst  of  a  tremendous  hurricane,  niemoralile  for 
having  hlowii  the  pirate  I'aiil  ilones  out  of  the  Firth  of  Forth, 
after  he  had  landed  and  attacked  several  iiohlemcirs  houses  and 
had  caused  the  inhahitants  on  both  shores  to  Hy  to  arms. 

I  was  the  tliiril  child  of  my  parents,  the  eldest  iK'ing  a  dnugh- 


•Noar  seventy  yearn  nftorwanlit  our  family  had  an  'aeccusion  of  fortune' 
by  thn  death  of  a  i.ousin  of  hers  of  the  name  of  Ilallybuiton,  who  died  intes- 
tate, and  we  received  about  X-1000  ac  next  of  kin  by  virtue  of  tho  llally- 
burton  blood. 


CIIII.I»II(M>I).  7 

tiT,  nlWHiinU  iiiiirrlitl  t»»  tin-  Ui-v.  Dr.  (Jllhitplc,  l*n»fwiiior  of 
lloiiiniiily  ill  tlii»  r«iv«'r»»ity  «•!'  Si.  Aii*ln'WH;  iui«l  t\\v  Mttnu], 
my  (l«-»r  iiihI  <»iily  l>n)lli«T,  now  Sir  <i«>nr){i<  <'iiiii|)Im>II  oI'  K.<I«'Ii- 
wtNxl,  t'vcr  iitiilril  to  iii«'  liy  i'wx  ot*  tli«>  ti>iMl«>rti«t  iifli>«'tioii  iumI 
Uio  witriii«>Mt  iri('ii<l»hi|i.  Fmir  ilauKlitrrM  i'ollowcil  U>  tultl  to  our 
pti<nHiiri>H  1111(1  tn  our  |Hivi<rty. 

An  lUiKiiifiitiition  to  tli«>  HtiiHiid  wiim  ((fiintnl  )ty  the  Court  of 
Ht'wion  in  a  iVw  yturH  Sir  KolHTt  Pn>Hton,  tli<<  inciiinlM'iit  of  the 
rtrxt  luul  nioH'  liic-nitivji  living,  'IviiiK,  my  lUtluT  HU«'«tt'<l»<l  liim; 
iui«i  (liiriii);  til*'  Kniii'li  war  li<'  nn>iv«'(l  tli«>  t'tiiolumcntMot'  ('hii|>- 
laiii  to  till'  lirfiiilallHUif  F<n<il>l<>H,  throiiKli  tli<>  (livor  of  lib 
Itirnit'f  |Hi|>il,  till!  duty  In  tlioM>  lax  tini<>N  In-uik  donu  hy  a 
(l«'|mty.  'riioit}j;li  kiH>|>iii)(  clear  of  tlcht,  lii>  !ia«l  a  cimMtant  HtniK- 
^li'  witli  tlu'  w'v  re  evilH  of  |M>niiry,  ami  it  wiw  only  liy  ^nut 
H4>lf-4|ciiial  and  k«mm1  manaKenivnt  that  he  waitublu  to  iilucutv  hb 
I'liildrni. 

I  war*  vtrynickly  in  my  rliildlwNNi,  and  I  had  a  narrow  (>Mii|)e 
when  attii«-l\*>d  liy  the  mea^len,  whieh  lon^aMlieted  me  with  wenk- 
nefw  in  my  eyes.  I  wiw  iiiii>e<l  with  miieh  tendermtw  hy  my 
mother,  wlioHe  favorite  (|ii-oliali!y  from  more  wanting  her  aid)  I 
wiiH  Hii|)|M>Hed  to  Im<.  I  am  anxious  likewiiM>  to  eommemorate  the 
kindnesH  of  a  faithful  <lonieHtie,  Mary  Hriiee,  who  livnl  in  the 
family  from  the  tini(>  of  my  pareiitM*  miirriaf;e  till  all  their  ehil- 
dreii  had  iH'eii  reared,  who  \va.»  a  He<>oiid  mother  to  uh  all,  and 
the  rei-oJU'ction  of  whose  fidelity,  devote<l  attaehmeiit,  iid  ami- 
able (|iialities  now  tills  my  aj;ed  eyes  w  itii  tears  of  tt'iiderneHs  and 
gratitude.  There  is  only  one  thiiijj  whieh  I  have  to  rej^ret  from 
my  eomieetion  with  her,  wlii<-h  is  an  <M>easioiial  uneoiitrollable 
dread  of  the  Miijirnifihirdf,  She  was  not  only  a  Hrm  In-liever  in 
l/ko»tM,  but  when  not  «'iipiy;ed  in  the  active  dis<'harj;«;  of  her 
duties  sh(>  could  hardly  think  or  talk  of  anything  else.  Her 
niothor  and  several  of  her  friends  had  seen  ^li(»sts,  and  although 
I  do  not  think  she  had  over  si-en  one  hei-self,  she  was  often  under 
the  apprehensicm  of  one  appearini;  to  her  should  she  Ik>  left  in  a 
dark  room,  or  approach  a  churchyard  at  nijrht.  Notwithstaml- 
ing  the  caution  she  received  to  abstain  from  j^host  stories  in  the 


i  I 


t  LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL. 

nursery,  she  coiistuutly  cnhTtaiiiod  uh  with  them,  and  she  told 
them  with  such  (Njuviction  of  their  trutli  and  .such  impressive 
olFcct,  that  1  well  remt'HilK'r  Ixiiuj;'  atraid  to  look  round  the  room 
lest  a  spirit  should  lK'c<»nie  visible  to  us.  The  consequence  has 
been,  that  though  theoretically  a  disbeliever  in  all  supernatural 
appearances  since  the  Ix-giniiing  of  the  world,  except  where  a 
niirachMvas  to  be  worked  for  the  special  purposes  of  Providence, 
and  though  in  company  and  in  the  daytime  I  laugh  at  the  credu- 
lity of  othci"s,  sometimes,  when  left  all  alone  about  the  midnight 
hour,  I  cannot  help  a  feeling  of  irrinc{in  or  superstitious  dread 
coming  over  me;  and  if  when  I  am  in  this  state  of  mind  the 
wainscot  cracks  or  a  Jiiousc  stirs  behind  the  hangings  or  the  clock 
strikes  twelve,  the  hair  of  my  head  bristles  up  and  I  expect  some 
inhabitant  of  the  world  unknown  to  stand  before  me. 

From  the  sjime  instructress,  probably,  I  was,  when  a  boy,  a 
firm  believer  in  witches.  There  actually  lived  a  reputed  witch 
in  our  town,  Tibbie  Ritchie  by  name : 

For  mony'a  beast  to  iload  sho  shot, 

And  porisluid  mony  a  bonny  boat,  i 

And  shook  both  moiklo  corn  and  bear, 

And  kept  the  country  side  in  loar.* 

One  of  my  infantine  illnesses  was  imputed  to  a  spell  she  had 
cast  upon  me,  because  my  latlu'r  had  offended  her.  However, 
she  afterwiu'ds  made  me  amends  by  foretelling  that  I  should 
become  *  a  great  man.'  When  Avandering  in  the  fields  all  alone, 
being  a  boy  of  seven  or  eight  years  old,  I  found  a  swarm  of  bees 
upon  the  bough  of  a  tree,  and  no  one  could  discover  from  whose 
hive  the  bees  had  swarmed.  Being  induced  to  creep  into  a  *  sleep,' 
they  were  carried  home  to  our  garden,  were  pronounced  my  prop- 
erty, and  were  the  foundation  of  my  future  wealth.  Upon  this 
occasion  Tibbie  Ritchie  prognosticated  that  *  I  was  to  fly  to  a 
great  distance  like  a  bee,  and  to  bring  home  much  honey  of  my 
own  making.' 

I  have  no  recollection  of  any  lessons  in  reading  being  given 


*  Burns'  Ihm  o'Shanter. 


OIlAMMAIl  HCIICKJIi  OP  CUPAH.  9 

to  mc,  and  I  have  boon  told  by  my  parenta  that  thoy  had  never 
any  tronble  in  toucljinji:  nio.  From  that  early  age  I  liad  a  great 
delight  in  books,  and  1  devoted  much  of  ray  time  to  them.  My 
reading  luw  often  been  very  ill-directed,  but  if  it  has  not  made 
me  the  scholar  and  the  phllosoplier  I  might  have  been,  it  has 
supplied  me  with  never-failing  occupation,  and  has  lent  a  charm 
to  my  existence  m  every  stage  of  my  progress. 

"NVhon  about  seven  I  was  sent  with  my  brother  to  learn  Latin 
at  the  grammar  school  of  Cu[)ar,  then  kept  by  a  cruel  pedagogue 
of  the  name  of  Gray.  Tliere  was  a  tradition  among  the  boys 
that  the  lady  whom  he  knew  as  his  wife  had  ]>roduced  a  child  to 
him  when  a  student  of  divinity,  which,  though  born  in  wedlock, 
came  into  the  world  too  soon  after  the  nuptial  benediction  had 
been  pronounced,  and  according  to  the  strictness  of  Presbyterian 
discipline  had  for  ever  cut  off  the  hope  of  his  'wagging  his  head 
in  the  pulpit.'  In  consequence  there  was  a  cantilena,  which  had 
probably  been  handed  down  through  numy  generations  of  boys, 
and  was  occasionally  repeated  in  a  feigned  voice  behind  his  back, 
or  written  in  a  disguised  hand  over  his  desk : 

Oh!  iny  fato  sinister.     Oh!  my  fate  sinister! 

Jeany's  eyns  so  bright  ami  bosom  so  wliite 

Have  spoiled  mo  for  0  minister !  ' 

From  this  disappointment,  or  some  other  cause,  he  applied  the 
ferula  or  tawse  with  unmerciful  severity,  and  although  my  brother 
was  by  no  means  slow  or  idle  or  mischcivous,  it  was  discovered 
that  the  right-hand  culf  of  his  coat  was  actually  worn  away  by 
the  frequent  aijplicativu)  of  the  instrument  of  punishment.* 

jhJt  nos  eir/o  iiia)uim  fcvnhv,  snbduxlmm,  but  I  suppose  on 
account  of  my  tender  years  I  esca[)ed  more  easily.  The  old 
.system  of  speaking  Latin  in  school  was  here  still  kept  up,  and  I 
well  remember  that  when  I  wished  to  leave  the  school-house,  I 
was  obliged  to  go  up  to  the  master  and  say,  'Licetne  mihi  exiref 

*  My  brother,  who  (and  who  alone)  has  seen  this  Memoir,  observes,  in 
mitigation  of  Gray's  cruelty,  that  he  himself  was  'mischievious,'  trying  to 
make  himself  a  little  hero  by  defying  the  tawse. 

Hartrigge,  October,  1810. 


V 


10 


l-IFK   (H'    LOUD   <'A.MI'HI:LL. 


Gray  l)eing  uot  only  cnu'l  hut  caroleaM,  there  were  heavy  com- 
plaintii  against  him,  and  lie  wu.s  at  last  removed  from  his  oflioc 
by  the  provost  and  bailies  of  tlie  borough,  the  patrons  and  trus- 
tees of  the  st'h(K)l.  He  was  sueceedeil  l)y  a  remarkal;lo  man  of 
tlie  name  of  Bayno,  paucnrum  Utrntritin  but  ncenuini  ingenii,  an 
enthusiast  in  the  eause  of  learning,  and  gifted  with  tlie  faeulty 
of  inspiring  a  love  of  learning  in  others.  While  apju'entiee  to  a 
shoemaker  he  had  contrived  to  piek  up  some  knowledge  of  the 
Latin  language  at  a  parish  sehool,  and  this  he  improved  by  a 
short  residence  at  a  Scfoteh  university.  He  was  then  himself 
appointed  schoolmaster  in  a  country  parish,  and  here  he  acquired 
such  fame  by  his  assiduity  and  success  in  teaching  that  he  was 
elected  as  successor  of  (jray  to  the  dignitled  situation  of  head 
master  in  the  granunar  school  of  the  county  town.  I  was  his 
favorite  pu[)il.  He  took  infinite  pains  with  me,  and  he  bestowed 
extravagant  praise  on  my  parts  and  proficiency.  He  called  me 
affectedly  his  'licotle  John,'  and  he  talked  of  'Leetle  John'  as  a 
prodigy.  I  did  learn  from  him  liatin  and  English  granunar 
very  thoroughly,  and  he  cherished  in  mo  a  love  of  labor  and  a 
desire  for  distinction.  IJut  from  his  imperfei^t  education  he  was 
sorely  deficient  in  qntintifi/,  and  from  this  deficiency  I  have  since 
constantly  suffered  and  shall  continue  to  suffer  to  my  dying  day. 
In  England  Latin  <[uantity  is  considered  the  test  not  only  of 
acquaintance  with  the  liatin  language;  but  of  liberal  breeding ; 
and  for  general  estimation  a  man  had  better  be  guilty  of  a  bad 
action  than  mistake  a  short  syllable  for  a  long,  or  a  long  for  a 
short.  AVhereforc  it  has  been  always  with  fear  and  trembling 
that  I  have  ventured  on  a  Latin  ipiotaticm  at  the  bar  or  in  Par- 
liament, and  I  have  often  suppressed  ([notations  which  were  veiy 
appropriate  from  a  dread  of  a  mistake  in  louf/s  and  nhortii,  well 
knowing  that  the;  chance  of  eclat  wius  nothing  to  the  ridicule  I 
should  incur  if  I  tripped. 

However,  I  flatter  myself  that  I  have  never  been  found  out 
in  a  false  quantity,  and  have  thus  been  more  fortunate  than 
Edmund  Burke  or  Sir  James  Mackintosh.  Burke's  magnum 
vectlgal  is  known  to  all  the  world.      I  have  been  told  that 


GRAMMAR  8ClKM)Ii  OP  CUPAR. 


1^ 


MackintoHli  speaking  in  a  debating  society  on  liis  arrival  in 
London  said,  'Non  omnia  moriar,  multaque  parti  mei  Vifnhit 
Libitinani.' 

From  Bayno's  instruetions  I  have  often  felt  a  great  superiority 
over  P^ngllshnien  in  the  granunatit^al  knowledge  of  their  own 
language.  It  is  niarvellous  to  me  how  this  is  neglected  even  now 
at  Eton  and  other  public  schools.  The  consequence  is  that  you 
find  men  of  liberal  etlucation  in  England,  who  would  faint  away 
at  such  a  mistiike  as  *  magnum  vccthjal  j)arniinoii!a,'  making  the 
verb  agree  in  number  with  the  last  j)receding  substantive,  with- 
out considering  whetiier  it  is  really  the  nominative  to  the  verl)^ 
telling  you  tiiat  '  the  love  of  riches  are  very  pernicious,'  and  that 
'the  sanctions  of  morality  is  often  forgotten.'  I  am  afraid  a 
native  of  Scotland  hardly  ever  becomes  master  of  all  the  copi- 
ousness and  all  the  niceties  of  English  ;  but  being  taught  it  as  a 
foreign  language,  he  generally  learns  it  more  grammatically  than 
those  who  have  not  had  early  warning  against  patois  and  pro- 
vincialisms. 

Till  this  time  I  suppose  I  had  not  l)cen  above  a  mile  from 
Cupar,  and  the  only  society  I  had  ever  seen  consisted  of  a  neigli- 
boring  minister  and  his  wife  who  miglit  pay  us  a  visit,  or  the  family 
of  the  squire  of  the  parish  by  M'hom  \\  e  children  wei-e  occasionally 
asked  to  tea,  and  whom  I  approached  with  greater  dread  and 
admiration  than  I  have  since  done  the  august  personages  at  Buck- 
ingham Palace. 

One  great  advantage  arises  fiv)m  early  seclusion  and  obscurity, 
that  there  is  uuich  excitement  and  enjoyment  from  new  scenes  as 
they  are  disclosed.  I  remember  my  extreme  delight  when  as  a 
child  I  first  visited  the  city  of  St.  Andrews,  and,  being  led  down 
the  'Butts  Wynd'  to  the  'scores,'  the  ocean  in  a  storm  avjis 
pointed  out  to  me.  On  crossing  the  Tay  the  view  of  Duiulee 
ex})anded  my  mind  to  all  T  could  conceive  of  nKignilicenc(>.  But 
when  I  at  last  walked  in  the  High  Street  of  Edinburgh  I  found 
how  childish  my  notions  had  been,  convinced  that  I  had  now 
seen  grandeur  >vhich  could  not  be  excelled  by  London,  Paris,  or 
Rome  itself.     It  was  likewise  in  my  favor  that  I  became  grad- 


12 


LIFE  OP  IX)RD  CAMPBELL. 


ually  acquainted  with  the  different  ranks  and  classes  of  mankind. 
The  son  of  a  prince,  reared  in  a  j)alace,  looking  down  at  once 
from  a  great  elevation,  sees  all  life  on  the  same  dead  level  and  of 
the  same  leaden  color,  having  nothing  to  excite  curiosity,  and 
deriving  no  enjoyment  from  the  sense  of  vanquished  difficulty. 

My  earliest  recollection  of  eloquence  arose  from  a  sermon 
delivered  by  my  father  in  1788,  on  a  day  of  thanksgiving 
appointed  by  the  Church  of  Scotland  to  celebrate  the  anniver- 
sary of  our  deliverance  from  slavery  and  prelacy  by  AVilliam  III. 
'Think  not  we  mean  this  day  to  brand  with  infamy  the  name  of 
Stuart.'  Such  was  the  beginning  of  his  addreas,  which,  M'hilo  it 
strikingly  described  the  benefits  which  Scotland  had  derived  from 
the  Revolution,  was  throughout  characterized  by  a  spirit  ol 
Christian  charity.  The  public  event  of  oldest  date  which  I  call 
to  mind  was  the  general  illumination  of  the  town  of  Cupar  in 
the  following  year,  upon  the  recovery  of  George  III.  from  his 
mental  malady.  Its  brilliancy  delighted  me,  but  I  still  recollect 
my  terror  from  from  the  squibs  and  crackers  which  were  let  off 
rouml  the  bonfire  at  Cuj)ar  Cross.* 

A  lew  weeks  after  I  had  completed  my  eleventh  year  (Novem- 
ber, 1790),  I  was  sent  to  the  University.  This  would  formerly 
not  have  been  t]iought  strange  in  Scotland  or  in  any  part  of 
Europe.  Bishop  Burnet  began  to  study  at  the  University  of 
Aberdeen  when  he  was  only  ten  years  old,t  and  at  fourteen  took 
his  decree  of  A.M.  Univei'sitles  were  seminaries  where  the 
course  of  scholastic  education  was  begun  and  finished,  and  we 
ought  not  to  be  surprised  to  hear  that  corporal  punishments  were 
inflicted  on  the  students.  Volumes  have  been  written  as  to  the 
nature  of  the  Qvtcraque  in(/enio  non  siibcHit<1a  riico,X  but  those 
who  have  :-o  zealously  vindicated  the  fame  of  the  poet  from  the 
supposed  stain  of  being  whipped  at  Cambridge  should  recollect 


*See  Cowper's  poem  'On  the  Queen's  Visit  to  London,'  March  17, 1789. 
'  One  Georgian  star  adorns  the  skies, 

She  myriads  found  below.' — Southey's  Cowpcr,  vol.  x.  p.  16, 17. 
t  Life  of  Burnet,  prefixed  to  ^ts<.,  p.  vi. 
J  Milton,  Ekgiarum  Liber,  i.  10. 


1790.J 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ST.  ANDREWS. 


13 


'ol.  X.  p.  16, 17. 


that  he  wivs  sent  thither  at  fifteen,  and  that  youths  older  than 
lie  then  was  are  now  liable  to  the  same  discipline  at  Harrow, 
Eton,  and  Westminster.* 

My  brother  and  I  went  to  college  at  the  same  time,  each  with 
a  biH'wvry  or  exhibition,  his  of  £20  a  year,  mine  of  £10;  sums 
which  must  have  gone  a  great  way  towards  our  expenses  during 
t\\o  session  of  six  months.  The  faithful  Mary  Bruce  at  first 
acconii)anied  us  to  St.  Andrews,  cooked  our  dinner,  cleaned  the 
small  room  in  which  we  read,  and  made  the  bed  in  which  we 
slept  together.  Our  lodgings  were  in  the  house  of  a  Miss  Bell, 
sister  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Andrew  Bell,  who,  altliough  the  son  of  a 
barber,  was  the  founder  of  the  ^ladraa  system  of  education  and 
so  liberally  endowed  the  Madras  College  in  his  native  city.  We 
attended  only  the  Humanity  and  Greek  classes.  The  former 
was  taught  by  Dr.  John  Hunter,  an  excellent  Latin  scholar  and 
the  most  acute  grammariiin  with  whom  1  have  cer  conversed. 
He  had  a  knowledge  of  prosody  far  beyond  what  is  usual  in 
Scotland,  and  he  published  editions  of  Horace  and  Virgil  which 
have  been  mentioned  with  applause  even  at  Oxford.  But  his 
expositions  of  the  general  principles  of  language  were  chiefly  to 
be  admired.  His  favorite  text-books  were  Harris's  'Hermes,' 
and  Hornc  Tooke's  'Diversions  of  Purley,'  and  he  commented 
upon  the  theories  of  these  subtle  dialecticians  with  such  per- 
spicuity and  force  as  to  make  them  intelligible  and  interesting  to 
all  his  pupils. 

The  Greek  Professor,  Henry  Hill,  was  a  very  different  per- 

*The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  records  of  the  University  of  St. 
Andrews  for  the  year  1791 :  '  Nomina  incorporatorum  in  Collegia  Sancti 
Salvatoris  et  Sancli  Leonardi  cordm  lievdo.  Do.  Dr.  Oeorg.  Hill  Collegia  Sanctce 
Mariae  Theologies  Proj'ea-iore  atq.  Universitalis  Rectort. 

'Noi  ingenni  adoUscentes  nomina  subscribentes,  sa7ict6  pollicemur  nos  reli- 
gione  reformatd  perseveralnros  preceptoribus  obacquium  debilum  e.vhibilurot 
atque  hiijus  Academice  Andreana:  emolumentiun  et  commodiim  quantum  i?i  nobis 
est  procvraturos  ad  queincujique  vita:  slatuin  pervenerimus. 

'February  17,  1791.' 

Here  follow  the  names,  among  which  is  written,  in  a  round,  boyish,  almost 
childish  hand,  '  Joannes  Campbell.' — Ed. 


14 


LIFE  OP  T.ORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1791. 


son — zealous  enough  to  comniuiiicute  the  little  he  knew,  but 
iguomnt  and  Hhallow.  In  the  Hixtocnth  and  seventoenth  centu- 
ries the  liatin  liUigiui^c!  hatl  been  eultivated  with  great  Hiieeess  in 
the  Scoteii  Universities.  Ihiehanan's  fiatinity,  wlu^tiier  in  verse 
or  prose,  is  exceeded  in  purity  and  vigor  by  that  of  no  nio<lern 
author;  and  the  collection  entitled  *  Delieiic  Poetnrum  Scotorum' 
shows  that  the  art  of  correct  and  elegant  Latin  versification  had 
l)oen  g(>nerally  ditl'iised  in  Scotland.  But  for  some  reason  Greek 
literature  has  never  taken  root  in  that  c(»untry.  When  I  was  a 
boy  it  was  not  taught  at  the  common  grammar  schools,  and  the 
Greek  professors  at  the  universities  had  to  begin  by  teaching 
their  i)upils  the  letters  of  the  Greek  alphabet.  There  were,  to 
be  sure,  two  Greek  classes ;  one  for  mere  iK'gimiers,  and  a  second 
for  reading  and  lecturing  on  Thucydides  and  Sopluxiles.  My 
fii-st  winter  I  did  not  get  l)eyond  iEsop'a  Fables.  I  made  a 
little  more  progress  under  Hill  in  subsequent  sessions,  but  if  I 
had  not  diligently  applied  to  the  language  some  time  after  I  left 
him,  I  never  should  have  been  able  to  read  the  Iliad  and 
Odyssey  so  as  really  to  enjoy  them  in  the  original.  Tliese 
divine  pro<luctions  I  can  delightedly  peruse  with  a  slight  occa- 
sional assistance  from  the  Latin  translation  at  the  bottom  of  the 
page,  although  I  must  confess  that  I  have  never  been  able  fully 
to  master  the  tragedians,  and  that  in  the  mysteries  of  the  Greek 
measures  I  have  hardly  been  initiated. 

The  session  terminating  in  the  beginning  of  May,  my  brother 
and  I  returned  to  our  father's  house  at  Cupar,  and  again  attended 
Bayne's  school.  AVe  now  gave  ourselves  inuiiense  airs  of  superi- 
ority, and  *  Leetle  .John,'  was  in  favor  no  longer.  When  we  had 
a  piece  of  English  to  be  turned  into  Latin,  I  remember  our  great 
sport  was  to  find  out  from  a  true  classic  some  very  cramped  or 
seemingly  very  bald  ex])ression  and  introduce  it  into  our  theme, 
and  when  the  oflended  ped^int'^ue  indignantly  struck  it  through 
with  his  pen,  or  hinted  .:  tlie  ferula,  to  confront  him  with  the 
original  from  which  it  \v'as  taken  and  to  proclaim  his  ignorance 
to  the  school.  Only  one  instance  now  lives  in  my  memory. 
'The  undertaking  was  easy'  my  brother  translated  ^nec  in  difficili 


17{>1.]  UNrVKItSITY   OF  ST.  ANDREWS.  16 

full  inccplum,*  wliicli  hoiiig  denounced  at*  l>iii-barous  was  justified 
by  the  authority  of  liivy.* 

My  studies  were  then  Interrupted  l)y  a  severe  illness  which 
la.ste<l  for  several  months,  and  it  was  only  from  the  unremitted 
care  of  my  dear  mother,  who  watched  by  my  beilside  day  and 
night,  that  I  recovered.  With  jj;rcat  dilKculty  I  was  conchu.'ted 
in  a  carriage  to  T^argo,  on  the  shores  of  the  Firth  of  Forth, 
where  I  soon  gained  strength.  I  rem(!nil)er  in  one  of  my  first 
airings  being  shown  the  house  in  which  Alexander  Selkirk,  the 
orisrinal  of  Robinson  Crusoe,  had  i-esided,  and  in  which  his 
musket  was  still  preserved  by  his  family. 

This  was  the  crisis  of  my  constitution.  I  have  ever  since 
enjoyed  almost  uninterrupted  health.  I  cannot  much  regret  my 
sickly  boyhoo<l,  as  to  that  I  ascribe  my  j)rcfercnce  of  the  plea- 
sure of  reading  to  boisterous  exercises  and  the  sports  of  the 
field. 

I  was  sent  back  to  St.  Andrews.  My  brother  and  I,  instead 
of  being  in  Icxlgings  in  the  town,  had  now  rooms,  or  rather  a 
room  and  a  closet,  in  St.  Salvator's  College.  There  was  dinner 
in  the  hall  only  for  bursars  or  exhibitioners  on  the  foundation, 
and  we  dinetl  with  other  students  at  an  ordinary  at  sixpence  a 
head.  The  dinner  was  plentiful  if  not  elegant.  The  abundance 
of  fish  and  the  cheapness  of  butcher's  meat  and  poultry  in  those 
days  furnished  a  table  at  a  price  which  now  seems  ridiculous. 
We  were  from  ne(*essity  very  temperate  or  rather  abstemious, 
having  nothing  to  drink  stronger  than  'twopenny'  or  small 
beer,  and  very  little  jKickct-monoy  for  occasional  indulgence. 
But  once  or  twice  a  month  we  had  a  booze — a  meeting  in  the 
evening  of  eight  or  ten  young  men  who  sat  down  to  punch  and 
continued  drinking  and  singing  to  a  late  hour.  Once  a  session 
there  was  an  extraordinary  meeting  of  this  sort  called  a  *  Gau- 
deamns.'  *  Tipping '  being  unknown  or  iinpracticed  as  far  as  we 
concerned,  to  enable  us  to  sustain  such  expenses  we  used  some- 
times to  stay  away  from  the  ordinary  and  dine  on  dry  bread,  so 
that  the  saved  sixpences  might  enable  us  to  '  keep  up  a  genteel 


*Livy,  b.  i.  c.  65,  sub  Jinem. 


t6 


IJFK  or   LOUD  OAMI'HKM,. 


[1702. 


Opj)ramnr<»'  wltliont  gt^ttiiiK  into  di-bt.  Tho  IMntnl  HynU'iu  now 
gaining  ground  is  cortaiiily  iiitiiiitcly  prct'cralih!  to  tlx;  lial)itual 
soaking  of  port  wine  or  whisky  punch  ;  hut  I  cannot  help  think- 
ing that  an  (M'casional  hooze  has  a  liivorahle  tcrxh-ncy  to  cxcito 
i\w.  i'acultics,  to  warm  the  ailcctions,  to  improve  the  manners,  and 
to  form  the  character  of  youth.  Of  coui'so  it  is  und<'rst<M)d 
that  excess  is  to  he  avoi(h'd,  which  is  not  only  contrary  to  mor- 
ality Imt  inconsistent  with  true  enjoyment. 

During  the  second  session,  in  addition  to  the  (ireek  and  I^atin 
cloMics,  I  attended  the  lectures  of  I'mfe^or  Harron  on  lih(!t«M'io 
and  Logic.  Fie  was  a  man  of  considemldc  eminence.  He  had 
written  a  treatise  *()n  the  I'hihisophical  ("'oiistruction  of  the 
Plough/  nuich  admired  in  its  day ;  ami  during  our  ilisputes 
with  America  \w  puhlishcd  a  pamphlet  (»n  tlu^  '('((Ionization  of 
the  AncientH,'  showing  how  nuich  more  liantlsomely  we  have 
done  by  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  cherishing  and  proftvfhif/ 
them,  than  Athens  by  Nax(w  or  Corinth  by  Syracuse,  which 
were  abandoned  to  fire  tr<i<h'  and  inde|)endence  as  soon  as  they 
were  founded.  Lord  North  conferred  u[>on  the  author  of  the 
contrast  a  pension  of  iilOO  a  year.  This  must  have  been  about 
the  time  that  Ilardinge,  who  was  made  a  Welsh  Judge,  brcjught 
forward  his  fauKUis  argument  to  show  that  the  Americans  really 
were  represented  in  Parliament,  'as  all  the  grants  of  land  in 
America  were  to  be  hekl  by  the  manor  of  Kast  (Jrcenwich  in 
tlie  county  of  Kent,  and  therefore  the  knights  of  (he  shire  for 
Kent  represented  all  the  Americans.'  It  nuist  be  confessed  that 
our  dispute  with  the  colonists  was  not  verv  skilfully  conducted 
in  argument  or  in  the  tield.  But  destiny  had  decreed  tiiat  they 
should  be  in(k>i)endent,  and  the  day  of  linal  separation  had 
arrived. 

I  have  preserved  the  })rinted  syno[)sis  (»f  Bi'rron's  lectures, 
which  were  very  much  after  the  maimer  of  Blair's,  and  certaiidy 
constituted  an  excellent  course  of  criticism  and  beUcs-lcttvcH.  In 
logic  he  was  not  very  profound.  He  was  bitter  against  Aristotle, 
and  attempted  to  ridicule  the  syllogistic  mode  of  reasoning. 
'What  then  is  this  Avonderful  syllogism?     Is  there  any  charm 


1703.] 


UNIVKUHITV   OF  HT.  ANDIIKWH. 


IT 


ill  th«!  iiuiiH?  DiK-M  it  (liHpcl  the  nuMtw  of  error  and  prcHcut 
tnith  in  lior  nuked  niajruty  to  the  nieiitul  eye?'  He  then  went 
on  with  II  diMparaninj;  exphmution  of  major  and  wii»o/'  propowi- 
tidiiH,  and  attempted  to  «how  that  thouj;h  the  Hyllof^istni  inight 
Ik'  a  weapon  powerful,  if  Hkilfnlly  wieldetl,  to  iwwiil  an  opponent, 
il  is  utterly  worthless  in  phiiosophieal  induetion. 

The  next  year  I  attended  the  Moral  IMiiiosophy  cIiwh,  taught 
by  Professor  Cook.  He  made  use  of  Ilutcheson'n  Moral  Phil- 
osophy  for  a  text-book,  which  he  greatly  «larkene<l  by  his  comr- 
mcnts.  Kach  lecture  \Hy^i\i\  witli  the  words  *  Our  author  now 
comes.'  Wliatever  I  know  of  tlu;  subjet^t  I  owe  to  subsequent 
private  study,  for  Professor  Cook  was  not  at  all  attended  to  by 
any  of  his  pupils.  Their  great  occupation  was  to  play  liim 
tricks.  Strang*!  noises  were  heard  in  tlie  class-room,  while  all 
present  looked  silent,  grave  and  unconscious.  In  winter  largo 
patches  of  snow  were  fixed  to  the  (Hailing  over  his  pulpit  just 
before  he  entcrwl  it.  These,  when  he  was  looking  up  to  account 
for  the  di'scending  drops  of  moisture,  loosened  by  the  increasing 
warmth,  fell  in  a  heap  and  almost  suffwated  him  and  'our 
author.'  On  one  occasion  entering  the  class-room,  he  actually 
found  his  place  oc(!Ui)ied  by  a  donkey  clad  in  an  academical 
robe,  with  llutchcson  lying  before  him.  But  this  brought  on 
thnats  of  inquiry  and  expulsion,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  session 
we  were  contented  with  staying  away  or  taking  a  novel  with  us 
to  read  during  the  lecture.  Yet  Cook  out  of  his  lecture-room 
was  not  only  a  good-natured  but  rather  sensible  man,  and  he 
must  have  had  considerable  reputation,  for  many  youths  belong- 
ing to  wealthy  families  in  England  were  sent  down  to  board  in 
his  house  for  the  benefit  of  his  tuition  while  they  were  attending 
the  University.  I  cannot  find  that  any  of  them  rose  to  such 
eminence  as  Lord  Melbourne,  the  pupil  of  Millar  at  Glasgow, 
or  Lord  John  Russell,  the  i)upil  of  Dugald  Stewart  at  Edin- 
burgh. 

From  the  second  year  I  was  supposed  to  be  attending  the 
mathematical  class.  Vilant,  the  Professor  of  Matheraatic'S,  was 
prevented  from  teaching  by  ill  health.     His  place  was  supplied 

VOL.  I.  1* 


18 


I. IKK  OK    Umi>  OAMPUKI.I.. 


Li  79:1. 


Uy  a  v<<ry  ul>l<'  ibwHiHtiiiit,  Dr.  •laiiifH  Hrowii,  uftrrwiihlr*  I't'ofrHrMtr 
of  Nutiinil  IMiiloHopliy  ut  (iIiif«^i>\v.  Miitlinniitim,  lio\vi.>Vi!l', 
were  ill  vi>ry  low  rrpiitc,  uimI  it  wiim  not  thought  at  nil  ilisf^riut'- 
Ail  cntiri-ly  to  iic^jclrct  tlii'in.  I  diil  ^^^'t  ov<i'  tlir  Ah^'h  Iti-id^r 
ami  iiiiii4ti>n>4l  pretty  well  the  lii-Nt  ^ix  InhiUm  of  Kiielid,  tri^o- 
iiotiH'try,  e«)iiieN(>«'tioMMaii(l  ul){el)riuiM  ilir  nn  (|iituliiiti<^  e<|uatioiiri; 
l>iit  lieri>  eiitltil  my  re^;iiliir  pro^^reMH,  iiiid  whatever  I  ^ot  In-voihI 
wtw  rii/tfitii  ft  Mi»irniin.  I  wan,  however,  a  ;>rea(  favorite  of  Dr. 
Hrowii,  and  he  often  had  me  to  drink  tea  with  him  aixi  kept  ma 
talkiii^j;  with  him  t«)  a  late  hour  in  the  niy;ht.  'i'o  him  I  am 
chieHy  indehtnl  for  my  ptlitinil  primipleH.  My  father,  though 
generally  very  m<N|erate  wu]  rational,  when  the  Kreiieh  Uevoln- 
broku  out,  violently  t<M)k  part  with  Hnrke  and  the  alarmiHtn. 
Brown  wuh  a  very  (h'termiiied  iJlN'ral.  lie  fore-Haw  a  new  eru 
of  huppiiu'HH  to  Kranee,  and  even  imagined  that  onr  institutions 
Might  U>  peaeeahly  improve*!  after  the  mini(>  fashion.  With  all 
my  mhnirtition  of  th(>  ancient  repuhlies  1  never  at  any  time 
thought  that  a  npuhlieaii  t'orni  of  government  was  adupteil  to 
our  tcrritor),  ^H>pnlation  and  liahits,  hut  J  early  imbilMii,  and  I 
steadily  preserved,  a  predileetion  for  the  popular  part  of  our 
coustitution  and  an  ardent  /eal  in  the  cause  of  eivil  and  religious 
liberty. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  17i>3  our  family  was  plunged  into 
the  de<'pest  utllietion  by  the  death  of  my  Im'IovchI  mother,  leaving 
seven  children  behind  her,  the  youngest  not  more  than  six 
months  old.  She  had  suUered  from  u  long  and  |)ainful  illness, 
nntl  some  weeks  before  her  death  her  physicians  had  desjtaired 
of  her  recovery.  I  remember  my  brother  and  myself  being 
sent  for  from  St.  -Vndrews  to  s(;e  lu>r,  and  my  anguish  at  behold- 
ing hor  altered  looks,  although  1  was  not  fully  aware  of  her 
danger.  In  taking  leave  when  we  were  about  to  n-turn  to  St. 
Andrews,  she  must  have  known,  though  w<'  did  n(»t,  that  she 
was  to  see  us  no  more.  We  were  made  to  kneel  at  her  bedside. 
She  kissed  and  blessed  us:  and  the  last  words  I  ev<'r  heard  her 
pronounce  now  vibrate  on  my  ear :  'Farewell!  and  oh !  be  good.' 

In  about  a  fortnight  after,  a  servant  came  to  fetch  us  to  attend 


niKj.j 


DKATII   OK    II IH    MOTIIKR. 


II 


hor  t\ini^i'iii.     I  ntiiu>iiitH!r  thu  iN'^iiiiiiiiK  of  my  tUthur'a  lettor  to 
us  uiiuouiiriug  tli«>  «<vi<nt: 

'Mr  DeAaniiLDM*  —I  ho|t<)  you  will  »\\n\v  proper  lirmimM  and  iubmiMion 
to  thn  will  of  (loci,  M  I  utrivit  to  'lo,  wIm'ii  yoii  ktiow  that  your  blti»«u<l  ntotlior 
ii  T'tlinvi"!  I'loiii  iulT<'rinK  atxl  \*  mow  a  nkint  in  II«avon,' 

Our  iiic<'titi^  wiw  hmi'tl>i-(>iikiti^,  Init  we  Hii|>|N)rt«>(l  ouriM'lvvM 
with  muiv  Mirt  oi'  (roiu|H>Miii'r  till  th«i  Cuiifi'ul.  TliiM  thii  riiHtoniM 
of  t\w  country  «liil  not  |)<>riiiit  him  to  iittciul.  My  hrothor  tiiul 
I  w(>tt>  chief  motirticrs.  According  to  I'rcriliytt'riuii  rtilo  no 
funri'ul  rtcrvi«v  wixn  ivm\,  hut  never  was  there  a  more  Hoh>mn 
mvuv.  The  (totliii  wiw  let  (h>wu  into  the  deep  ^mve.  [  MHiincil 
nut  to  know  thut  1  hiid  loNt  my  parent  till  then,  uiid  not  to  be 
eoiiHeioiiH  till  th(!n  thut  HJie  wiim  to  In)  M'ptirutiHl  from  uo  for  over. 
i(ut  when  I  heaiil  the 'moulds' rttrike  n|K>n  the  cofHn,  und  haw 
the  ^riive  tilled  up  uiid  the  ^nn-n  s<mIs  rolled  over  it,  my  heart 
died  within  m(>,  und  a  senH(>  of  (h-solation  overwhelmed  mu  Hueh 
OH  I  have  lutver  since  experienced.  I  did  not  then  shed  a  tear, 
but  when  I  wu8  Icff  home  I  hud  some  reli(>f  by  throwing  myHolf 
into  my  father's  urms,  and  ubundoning  all  etlort  to  (Hintroi  my 
j^rief.  She  wus  a  woman  of  ran;  virtues.  She  w«ih  devotctl  to 
her  duties  as  u  wife  und  a  motlKjr.  She  nobly  Htruji;(^led  with 
the  narrow  circumstances  in  which  she  was  placed,  and  by  her 
jjiMtd  inanaj^einent  ami  gmnl  tastt;  she  contrive<l  even  to  throw  an 
!iir  of  elej^aiK^e  and  comfort  over  our  humble  dwelling.  Her 
piety  was  exemplary,  and  she  h>ft  on  my  infant  mind  deep  reli- 
giotis  impressions,  which  intercourse  with  the  world  may  at  times 
have  iiiipairt  d,  but  which  leisure  and  rcllciititm  are  able  to  revive, 
ami  which  I  hope  may  prepare  inc  to  meet  my  summons  from 
this  world  as  U'c^tmcs  a  Christiun.  'May  I  die  the  death  of  the 
righteous,  and  may  my  last  end  1h'  like  hers.* 

My  father  remained  fondly  attached  to  her  memory  and  never 
married  again. 

Soon  aft(!r  niy  mother's  death  my  father  censed  to  reside  in 
Cupar,  and  moved  to  Carslogie  JIous(!,  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  town.     This  dwelling  was  forme<l  out  of  an  ancient 


t.lVr.  OK    l.n|ll>  r\MI>ll»-,l.l, 


[1703. 


foHiilit'O  wliicli  hiul  In'Iiiiip'<|  It  the  ( '|t>|)|iiiii<f«  tif  ('iirM|i>)(i()  for 
twenty  )(«<iii'nitioiN.      I  IumI  a  riMtiii  ii^Mi^tM'«l  iii<>  M>«Mt|M<«|  nut  of  a 


wit 


II  of 


iiiirru 


1IM<    tllit'klH'M),    IIImI     I|I'|-|>     I     tcNtk     til    llti 


Hfl'lllUII'OIUI 


ri>u<lin)(  with  i-xtrcinr  anior.  Hut  I  invarialil\  IoiiimI  that  at 
liotiic  I  <*iiiilil  not  niltivati'any  piii'Miiit  n><|iiiriii^;  Httinly,  vi^nrmiH 
uimI  n'^fiilar  a|)|ilii>atinii :  '  IIniii«-kM'|)iii)(  yoiilli  liavo  Mr  lioiiu'ly 
witM.' 

TIiIh  year  my  fatlirr,  Ih-Iiik  a  mh'IhIht  nf  tlir  (  m  iirral  Atf««'rnl>ly, 
<>aiTif<l  III*'  <)V«>r  with  him  to  KdiiilMir^h,  an<l  I  wan  |iri>M'iit  at 
M'Vii'al  ^:ri>at  ticlMiltrt  in  ilii^  mir  ScnthMh  ConvtM-utioii,  Dr. 
|{i)lM'i-tM)n,  the  hi.'^tnrian,  having  i'«'tii*i>«|  tVtim  thr  <'hit>f  dirfftion 
of  the  ('hiii-i'h,  ha<l  Ini'ii  «ui •«•••••« It •« I  liy  l)r.  (icorni*  Hill,  I'rinripal 
i»f  Ht.  MaryVCollt'nc,  St.  AiKlrcw?*,  ami  I  waMnnitirM'M  hy  hraririK 
M'Vti'al  H|N><>rh«'H  fi'iim  him  nmiini^  up  tn  any  itii'u  I  ntnhl  thru 
form  of  oratorical  excel Icnci'.  I  !«>  wa>«  a  v«Ty  extraordinary  man, 
and  from  hin  silver  voice,  imprer^nive  manner  and  Huhtle  powii-h 
(»f  delHtte,  would  have  U'en  liHtencil  to  with  applauHo  in  the  IIou.hu 
of  CommonH  in  itH  U'st  dayri.  ^ 

I  luul  very  early  U'^un  to  wtudy  onitory.  Tn  my  thlnl  McwNion 
at  St.  Andrews  I  lH'<-ame  a  mendH'r  of  a  deliatin^  eluh  called 
'The  IMiiloHophical  S<M'ietv.'  N\  t'  met  weeUlv  to  diHcusis  some 
(|UeHtion  in  morals  or  {Mjlitics.  Two  were  a|>pointed  to  Mup|)ort 
the  atlirmative  and  two  'to  impugn.'  I  re(>ollect  keen  dchates 
tin  '  >\  iiether  Hrutu.H  wiw  justified  in  killinj^  Cu'sarV  '  Whellier 
ilenwK-racy  is  a  jjikmI  form  of  jrovt'rnmi'ntV'  'Whether  man  is  a 
free  ajjent?'  *  Whether  (iueen  Kli/aheth  was  a  j;ood  Hoveni};n"." 
'  Whether  fre<!  trade  is  henelicial  to  a  state?'  In  this  last  debate 
I  took  part  for  free  trade,  and  re<'o|lect  piinin^  a|)plause  hy  an 
alliterative  sentence  which  I  thouj^ht  very  line.  Somehow  or 
another  it  iKtcame  necessary  or  expedient  to  denounce  the  iron- 


masters w 


th 


ho.  i 


)V  «'om 


liinat 


ion  a  short   time   heforc,  lia<l    raiscc 


d 


leu"  comuKMlity  t(»  an  extraordinary  |trice:  1  (lescrioed  tiiciii  ils 
u  set  of  men  *  whose  hearts  were  as  hard  iw  the  metal  they  manu- 
factured and  monopoli/ed.' 

I  rather  rcj^rct  that  1  did  not  afterwards  practice  more  in 
debating  societies.    T'hoiifili  they  jjive  rise  to  a  great  deal  of  bad 


1794.]  iTifiVKiwm'  or  '-t.  AMminn.  tt 

iiihI  Hi|t|Hiiit  omiDrv,  I  tN>li<*vi>  ii|m)Ii  iIm>  \vIio|i<  thoy  tnu'ii  Utth 
to  think  iiimI  to  f!i|)n>M  tlnMi^lii.  I  liii\*'  known  M>vi>rol  i>mini>nt 
ili'lMttin^  wM'ii'ty  tiN'iikrm  who  liiih'«l  in  piihlii*  llt'c,  hut  I  <io  not 
lN>li<>V(«  ihi'y  woiilii  hiivi-  iiMninh'tl  U-itfr  if  they  hiul  n«<v«'r 
lH>lon^i'<l  to  .1  th'lHttin^  MN'ii'iy,  tiii«l  I  *-oitl«|  nwntioit  |,oi-«| 
llron^hiuii  iinil  othii'H  wUo  hiivf  ih'rivi-«l  ^rciit  ii«lviiiitii){<*  in  thf 
real  war  ot'  wonln  iVoiii  thix  previous  ih'illinK. 

From  tht'  time  thiit  I  went  to  tfilh>Ki<  I  t-f^fuliirly  rt'itil  tht* 
Kfliiilnnyli  ^ 'ninniif  iu'\v>\»\\H<v,ntu\  I  hiivr  now  a  liv«'ly  nii-olht'- 
tion  lit'  thr  |)nl)lii*  jov  on  Konl  ||<>ui''m  vi)>tory  of  th«>  Ut  of 
.lunr,  17tM,  It. ..I  ot'  tht>  horror  rtni.onl  liy  the  «'X«'«'ntion  of  lx)niii 
XVI. 

My  fourth  <M>i4nion  at  rolh'y;!*  wan  att«>n<h>«l  with  very  Httlo 
ini|irov<>nit>nt.  'I'h*'  fhift'  liunincMM  ou^ht  to  hav<>  \nfi\  in  thn 
natunil  phihwophy  chiMH,  hut  thi«  wuh  th«>n  tau);ht  liy  a  certain 
Dr.  Korrt'i^t,  who  ha<l  tniv«'lh'«l  nil  ovt-r  Kuro|N>,  and  wiim  a  very 
^^entl«>nlanly  man,  hut  hail  v«>r\  littlr  srienre  an<l  wiih  ineajmhU* 
of  eotunnuiinttin^  th*'  little  he  po«i>ii>Hr<e<l.  Me  couitl  not  eom- 
niand  the  attention  of  hi<.  piipiU  unleHH  when  h«>  had  Monu) 
aiunsiny;  e.\|M>rinients  tnr\hik)it.  Ihit  he  prix-eeded  in  hin  nairw) 
through  dynainies'  hydnwfntics,  at'ouMties,  iV'e.,  ending;  with 
iiHtrononiy,  and  .Hhowin^  us  an  orrery  whieh  some  fornu>r  ehan- 
(■ellor  had  pres4>nted  to  the  eollef^e. 

I  had  now  linislKil  the  (-urriviiluui  whieh  I'Utitled  nie  to  a 
de^rtH'  *>f  \.  M.  But  aeadeuiinkl  de^re<<H  for  studeutn  had  fallen 
into  ih'suetude  at  St.  Andrews,  The  (Ic^ree  of  A.  H.  was  wholly 
luikuown.  The  dejrree  of  A.M.  was  eonlerre«l  as  a  matter  of 
(foui'se  (eertain  fees  iM'iny  paid)  on  any  one  applying  for  it  who 
had  iH'en  at  eolle^"  lour  -er.sions,  hut  was  only  applied  for  l>y 
the  nu)st  idle  anil  ill-i'ondueted  who  eould  not  ohtain  eertilieates 
from  the  prot'essors  of  their  havinj;  attended  the  elasse.s  to  enahle 
them  to  enter  as  .students  of  divinity,  or  to  prove  that  they  had 
gone  throu;i;h  a  philosophy  eurrieiihnn  at  a  luiivii'sity  on  any 
future  oeeasiou  when  proof  of  this  fact  inijrht  he  nuiterial.  I 
had  my  (^ertiticjites  from  all  the  profess«»rs  in  rather  flattering 
terms.      Some  years  afterwaiils   I   took   my  regidar  degree  of 


Iff 


V 


rr 


■  .t 


;.:!!:  i 


LIFE  OP   LORD  CAMPUKI,! 


[1794. 


Master  of  Arts  when  I  luul  boon  tranHliTretl  to  En^laiul  and  it 
was  creditable  to  add  A.  M.  to  my  name. 

Considering;  that  I  liad  not  yet  reaehed  my  Mixteentlr"  year, 
my  stoek  of  knowledjjje  was  not  inconsiderable,  and  Frenchmen 
or  Germans  wouUl  have  thonjiht  1  was  more  advanced  in  mental 
cultivation  than  an  P^njjjlish  l>oy  in  the  fifth  form  at  Eton.  Yet 
I  have  ever  regarded  with  envy  the  foundation  laid  at  great 
schools  in  England  of  solid  and  exact  learning.  I  have  had  to 
labor  under  a  deficient  store  not  only  of  classical  but  of  scientific 
acquirements.  I  have  since  struggled  hard  to  supply  the  defi- 
ciency;  but  I  entered  the  lists  by  no  means  on  equal  tern.s  with 
an  Oxford  fii*st  classman  or  a  C'ambridge  wrangler.  ]'  had, 
however,  what  was  more  valuable  than  mere  academical  profi- 
ciency, an  unextinguished  desire  to  excel.  When  my  father  fii-st 
brought  me  to  be  matriculated  at  iSt.  Andrews,  he  pointed  out, 
translated  and  explained  to  me  the  motto  in  the  public  hall  of 
disputation,  where  degrees  were  formerly  confeiTcd  : 

This  advice  from  his  father  to  Diomed  when  departing  for  the 
Trojan  war  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  son  of  the  minister 
of  Cupar  when  first  leaving  the  parental  roof.  I  have  always 
since  done  my  bvM,  and  I  have;  never  been  accused,  or  long 
accused  myself,  of  iilleness  or  a])athy. 

My  brother  being  destined  for  the  medical  profession,  now 
became  a  pupil  of  Dr.  Govan,  a  distinguished  physician  in 
Cupar,  who  was  an  accomplished  classical  scholar,  was  well 
acquainted  with  modern  languages,  and  had  made  the  grand 
tour  as  travelling  tutor  to  Sir  William  Alexander,  afterwards 
Chief  Baron  of  the  Exchequer  in  T^iUgland.  This  accomplished 
son  of  iEsculapius,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  kept 
an  apothecary's  shop  in  which  the  medicines  he  pi-escribed  to  his 


*  He  had  not  completed  his  fifteenth  year.  His  fourth  session  had  ended 
May,  1794.— Ed. 

\lliad  vi.  208.  The  line  occurs  in  a  speech  to  Diomed  by  Qlaucus,  in  which 
Glaucus  quotes  the  advice  given  to  him  by  his  own  father  Hippolochus. — Ed. 


1796.] 


STUDENT  OF   DIVINITY. 


sion  had  ended 


j)iitiont8  wort!  ('((UiixKUidcd  iiiul  any  wtmugcr  might  buy  an  ounce 
of  P^psom  wills.  Bcliiiul  the  shop  was  ii  room  for  study  to  which 
I  frequently  rosort<'tl,an<l  I  recoUccit  my  mind  being  much  openetl 
by  some  anatomical  works  which  I  here  mot  with. 

But  I  was  intoiidod  for  the  'ministry.'  This  was  my  father's 
wish,  in  Avhich  at  this  time  T  entirely  ac(i[uiescod.  I  was  pleased 
with  the  thought  of  becoming,  like  him,  a  groat  popular  preacher, 
and  I  anti(;ipated  that  I  might  one  day  reach  the  dignity  of 
Moderator  of  the  General  Asscimbly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland. 

According  to  the  rules  of  this  venerable  establishment  no  one 
can  be  a  candidate  for  ortlers  till,  after  having  iinished  his  phi- 
losophy course,  he  has  Ijccu  four  years  a  student  at  a  divinity 
college  or  hall.  The  following  winter  I  was  sent  to  St.  Mary's 
College,  St.  Andrews,  apin-opriated  exclusively  to  the  study  of 
theology  and  ITebrcM'.  I  was  only  sixteen*  and  most  boyish  in 
my  api)earance.  Though  by  a  sudden  and  unexpected  shoot  I 
afterwards  sprang  u])  to  the  respectable  height  of  five  feet  ten 
inches,  I  was  then  very  short  of  stature  for  my  yeai"s,  and  I  had 
gone  by  the  derisive  sobriquet  of  Joannes  GUjas,  or  'Jack  tlie 
Giant.' 

I  attended  lectures  on  divinity  and  biblical  criticism  by  Prin- 
cipal Hill,  who,  for  Scotland,  Avas  a  profound  Greek  scholar,  and 
who  had,  more  than  any  teacher  I  ever  knew,  the  faculty  of  rous- 
ing and  fixing  the  attention  of  his  hearers.  Dr.  Wilson,  who  had 
been  Professor  of  Hebrew  with  some  reputation,  and  hatl  pub- 
lished a  grammar  of  that  language  repudiating  'points,'  had 
become  Professor  of  Church  History ;  but  though  he  now  and 
then  gave  us  an  entertaining  disquisition,  he  was  by  no  means 
deeply  read  in  the  lathers,  and  would  not  submit  to  the  labor 
of  composing  a  systematic  course  of  lectures — being  very  differ- 
ent from  a  predecessor  of  his  whom  I  remember  seeing  Avhen  a 
child.  This  profcss(^r  lecturing  in  Latin,  his  first  lecture  was 
entitled  ^T)e  rebus  r/edls  ante  mundum  conditum'  and  he  brought 
down  ecclesiastical  history  to  the  last  preceding  General  Assembly 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


*  He  was  only  fifteen, — Ed. 


\\> 


i.u 


I'l 


ill 


V 


24 


LIFE   OF   LOIM)   CAMl'lJKLL 


[1795. 


Professor  Wilson  was  t'uinoiis  as  a  hoii  vivant  and  a  jester. 
Like  Durtneuf,  he  luul  a  great  passion  ibr  a  pie,  not  of  liani  but 
of  pigeons.*  The  8t(3ry  ran  that  on  one  occasion  he  hud  sat 
opposite  to  a  huge  pigeon-pie  at  dinner,  and  that,  his  pUito  l)eing 
about  to  Im)  removed,  among  tlie  dcbrif  of  bones  siaittered  over  it, 
there  was  an  entire  pigeon  disc^overed  which  he  ha*l  overlooked, 
and  which  he  })roccedcd  to  devour.  lie  said  that  he  preferred 
'Baxter'sf  works'  to  all  the  divines  in  the  world. 

I  begim  the  study  of  Hebrew  under  Dr.  Trottt^i',  who  taught 
the  language  according  to  Wilson's  granunar  without  the  *  points,* 
which  he  concurred  in  denoiincing  as  a  moilern  corruption  of  the 
text  of  the  Old  Testament.  1  advanced  so  far  as  to  Ik;  able  to 
read  and  translate  the  Psalter  with  some  facility,  anil  to  marvel 
at  the  wondrous  simplicity  and  baldness  of  the  language,  but  I 
never  made  any  real  progress  in  it,  antl  never  was  at  all  initiated 
in  the  kindred  dialects.  Not  having  afterwards  made  any  private 
efforts  in  oriental  learning,  1  can  now  hardly  distinguish  all  the 
letters  of  the  Hebrew  alphabet. 

The  divinity  students  in  rotation  read  a  chapter  of  the  Bible 
and  offered  up  a  prayer  of  their  own  composition  in  the  hall  of 
St.  Mary's  College  morning  and  evening.  I  well  recollect  my 
trepidation  when  my  turn  cam*;  round ;  but  I  did  not  break 
down.  I  was  greatly  petted  by  George  (?ook,  now  a  D.D.  and 
leader  of  the  moderate  party  in  the  Church  of  Scotland  against 
Candlish  and  the  Nonhttrusionisti.  He  was  of  greater  standing 
and  a  good  many  years  older  than  me,  but  he  invited  me  to  drink 
tea  with  him  and  walk  with  him,  and  he  conversed  with  me 
freely  on  all  the  most  noted  (|Ucstions  which  have  arisen  in 
morals  and  theology.  I  had  for  fellow-student  of  my  year  Dr. 
Thomas  Chalmers,  afterwards  deservedly  famous  as  an  orator 
and  an  author,  but  he  w;ls  then  singularly  unformed,  and  gave 
not  the  slijrhtest  foretaste  of  his  future  eminence. 


*'  Each  mortal  has  his  pleasure:  none  deny 
Scarsdale  his  bottle,  Darty  his  ham-pie.' 

Pope's  Imilations  of  Horace,  book  ii.  sat.  i. 
f  In  Scotland  a  baker  who  takes  in  pastry  to  be  cooked  in  his  oven  is  called 
a  '  baxter.' 


[1795. 


1795.] 


ST.  Mary's  coli.koe. 


26 


and  a  joator. 
•t  of  ham  but 
n  he  had  sat 
is  pkite  iK'ing 
ttorod  over  it, 
i  ()verlo()ke<l, 
;  he  pret'erred 

V,  who  taught 
it  the '  points/ 
ruption  of  the 
to  Ih!  able  to 
ukI  to  marvel 
iiguage,  but  I 
lit  all  initiated 
dc  any  private 
uguish  all  the 

r  of  the  Bible 
in  the  hall  of 

recollect  my 
id  not  break 

a  D.D.  and 
tland  against 
'ator  standing 
cl  me  to  drink 

scd  with  me 
tive  arisen  in 

my  year  Dr. 

as  an  orator 
tod,  and  gave 


I  cannot  recollect  any  other  contemporary  at  St.  Mary's  who 
rose  to  fame  except  Dr.  John  Leyden,  the  poet  and  orientalist, 
who  was  at  St.  Andrews  as  tutor  to  a  young  man  of  fortune  and 
attended  lectures  with  us.  He  cert^iinly  possessed  the  most 
astounding  energy,  and,  if  his  career  had  not  been  prematurely 
cut  short,  it  must  have  been  very  brilliant. 

My  chief  companion  was  Thomas  Duncan,  now  Professor  of 
Mathematics  at  St.  Andrews,  a  very  diligent  student,  and  with 
a  fine  talent  for  English  composition.  He  devoted  himself  to 
science  all  his  life,  but  he  has  never  made  any  discoveries  in  it, 
and  he  has  never  published  anything  beyond  a  synopsis  of  his 
lectures  for  his  pupils. 

There  was  a  debating  s»x'iety  at  St.  Mary's  for  sacred  subjects. 
I  was  at  first  blackballed,  whether  merely  from  my  youth,  or 
from  having  petulantly  offended  some  of  the  members,  I  never 
knew.  A  foolish  fellow  of  the  name  of  Murray,  who  very 
likely  was  the  cause  of  my  d'mjrazia,  sjiid  to  me,  *  While  you 
bear  it  like  a  man,  I  hope  you  will  feel  it  like  a  man.'  I  felt 
resentment  more  than  humiliation  and,  although  I  was  soon 
after  admitted  without  knowing  that  I  had  been  again  pro- 
posed, I  never  entered  with  any  spirit  into  the  })roccedings  of 
the  society. 

At  the  end  of  the  session  there  was  set  me  by  the  Principal 
a  text  on  which  I  was  to  deliver  a  sermon  by  way  of  exercise 
in  the  hall  the  following  winter :  'All  living  things  wait  upon 
Thee,  antl  Thou  providest  food  for  them  in  due  season.'  I  was 
desired  to  read  Ray  and  Derham,  and  illustrate  the  goodness  of 
the  Deity  by  the  manner  in  which  animal  life  is  sustained.*     I 


Ibook  ii.  sat.  i. 
lis  oven  is  called 


*  Extract  from  the  St.  Andrew's  University  Calendar  :  '  Every  Student  (in 
St.  Mary's  College)  is  required  to  deliver  six  di?cour.ses,  viz.,  a  Latin  exegesis,  a 
homily,  a  critical  exercise  on  some  portion  of  the  original  text  of  the  New 
Testament,  a  critical  exercise  on  some  portion  of  the  original  text  of  the  Old 
Testament,  a  lecture,  and  y,  popular  discourse ;  and  it  is  expected  that  every 
Student  will  deliver  his  first  discourse  during  his  second  session  at  the  latest, 
and  the  remainder  of  his  discourses  at  such  periods  as  may  enable  him  to 
deliver  the  whole  of  them  before  the  end  of  January  of  the  last  session  of 
his  course.' — Ed. 

VOL.  I.  2 


26 


LIFE  OP   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1796. 


labored  the  subject  very  diligently  during  the  vuentioii,  and 
composed  an  essay  whi(!h  gainal  me  no  small  credit  when  rend 
aloud  before  the  professors  and  students.  For  one  sentence 
I  was  indebted  to  Tom  Duncan :  *  Every  leaf  bears  insects 
which  quaff  the  delicious  juices  spontaneously  suj)plied  for 
their  use,  and  spend  their  days  in  luxurious  indolence."  The 
rest  of  the  sermon  was  all  my  own,  including  a  sentiment 
which  was  nmch  applauded  by  Professor  Wilson,  'that  wc 
ought  to  be  thankful  that  a  man  is  not,  as  he  might  have 
been,  fed  like  an  oyster,  unconscious  of  his  nutrition,  but  that 
in  addition  to  all  the  intellectual  pleasures  given  to  us  from 
the  exercise  of  rciison,  the  j)rc'servation  of  the  individual  is 
converted  by  a  kind  Providence  into  a  never-failing  source  of 
enjoyment.' 

My  second  session  as  a  student  of  Divinity  had  little  else  to 
distinguish  it.  I  lived  in  a  wretchedly  cold  room  in  St.  Mary's 
College,  and  dined  in  the  hall  at  two,  a  professor  presiding. 
Our  fare  was  very  plain,  and  the  professors  were  suspected  of 
dining  more  luxuriously  at  a  later  hour.  We  had  soup  and 
cold  meat  for  sui>per  after  eight  o'clock  prayers.  I  remember 
an  assistant  butler  who  always  attended  very  devoutly  till  he 
heard  the  King  prayed  for.  He  considered  this  a  i)roof  that  the 
service  was  nearly  over,  and  that  it  was  time  to  put  supper  on 
the  table.  Off  he  then  ran,  and  we  found  otir  repast  ready 
when  we  had  said  'Amen.' 

I  occasionally  engaged  in  a  game  at  golf,  for  which  the  links 
at  St.  Andrews  arc  famous.  Although  never  an  enthusiast  in 
this  or  any  other  game,  I  think  it  is  much  superior  to  the  Eng- 
lish cricket,  which  is  too  violent  and  gives  no  opportunity  for 
conversation.  Reading  was  my  great  occupation.  My  theological 
instruction  was  confined  to  the  lectui'e  in  the  hall.  In  my  room 
I  reiid  a  great  deal  of  profane  history  written  by  Fielding  and 
Smollett,  as  well  as  by  Hume  and  Robertson.  If  my  reading 
had  been  as  judicious  as  it  was  ardent,  I  might  have  laid  the 
foundation  of  a  reputation  for  knowledge  equal  to  that  of  Jlal- 
1am  or  Macaulay.       •  "* 


[1796. 

'  vacation,  ami 
•edit  when  road 
r  one  scntont'o 
f  boarH  insectvS 
y   supplied   for 
dolencc."    The 
iig  a  sentiment 
ilson,  'that  we 
he   might  have 
trition,  but  that 
ven  to  us  from 
ic  individual  is 
failing  source  of 

lad  little  else  to 
)ni  in  St.  ^Mary's 
feasor  presiding, 
ere  suspected  of 
e  had  soup  and 
•s.     I  remember 
evoutly  till  he 
a  proof  that  the 
put  supper  on 
)ur  rcpatst  ready 

which  the  links 
an  enthusiast  in 
n-ior  to  the  Eng- 
opportunity  for 
My  theological 
1.     In  my  room 
by  Fielding  and 
If  my  reading 
it  have  laid  the 
to  that  of  llal- 


1797.] 


PRIVATE  TUTOR  TO   MR.  ORAIOIE. 


27 


The  subject  of  my  next  exercise  was  *  the  conversion  and 
character  of  St.  I'anl.'  During  the  ensuing  vacation  I  read  a 
great  deal  upon  the  subject,  and  I  wrote  a  discourse  which,  if  it 
were  preserve<l,  I  believe  I  could  now  peruse  with  satisfaction. 
I  dare  say  it  was  chiefly  taken  from  West  on  'thd  Conversion 
of  St.  I'aul,'  and  Paley's  'Horce  I'aulinie.'  Halving  established 
the  authenticity  of  Paul's  history  by  Ijuke,  and  the  genuineness 
of  his  Epistles,  I  worked  the  argument  that  being  neither 
hnpostor  nor  enthusiast  he  nuist  liave  had  a  divine  mission  to 
propagate  the  Gospel. 

The  delivery  of  this  in  the  following  session,  and  my  general 
regular  conduct,  so  far  ingratiated  me  with  I'rincipal  Hill  that 
he  reconunended  me  as  private  tutor  to  read  with  the  only  son 
of  Mr.  Craigle  of  Glendoick,  a  great  laird  in  the  Carse  of  Gow- 
rie,  and  son  of  Lord  President  Craigie,  a  celebi-ated  Scotch  law- 
yer. At  the  end  of  the  session  I  accompanied  the  youth  to 
Glendoick,  there  to  pass  the  sununer  with  him.  I  was  treated 
on  the  footing  of  a  visitor  and  companion  of  the  young  laird, 
and  I  passed  my  time  most  agreeably.  I  now  for  the  first  time 
had  a  pair  of  top  boots,  of  which  I  was  exceedingly  proud.  I 
had  a  more  defensible  pleasure  in  exploring  the  beauties  of  the 
surrounding  scenery  on  the  banks  of  the  Tay.  I  well  remember 
the  enthusiasm  I  felt  Avhen  I  first  beheld  the  town  and  Inches 
of  Perth.  On  another  occasion,  walking  by  myself  to  the  top 
of  a  high  hill,  I  all  of  a  sudden  had  presented  to  me  the  great 
valley  of  Glenmore,  with  the  ancient  castle  of  Glamis,  one  of 
the  few  Scotch  fortalices  which  do  not  painfully  remind  us  of 
the  former  poverty  of  our  country.  My  pupil  and  I  made  a 
visit  to  Glasgow  to  see  a  relation  of  his,  who  was  then  Lord 
Provost  of  that  city.  His  lordship  had  a  most  beautiful  daugh- 
ter, whose  opening  charms  first  informed  me  I  had  a  heart ;  but 
the  impression  was  transient,  and  did  not  prevent  me  from  rel- 
ishing the  new  objects  of  curiosity  and  the  lovely  scenery  which 
were  open  to  me.  Young  Craigie  was  of  an  inert  temperament, 
and  I  could  not  get  him  from  the  streets  of  Glasgow,  where  he 
loved  to  lounge.     I  went  all  alone  on  an  excursion  to  Lanark, 


38 


iilFU  OF    I,Oltl>  (AMI'IU'.M.. 


[1798. 


Paisley,  und  Hamilton  Palace,  and  on  another  to  Dumbarton 
Castle  and  Loch  Lomond. 

Our  visit  being  over,  young  Craigie  and  I  returned  home  by 
Airtloch,  where  travellers  cannot  avoid  seeing  the  most  perfect 
Roman  encampment  remaining  in  the  world.  I  regarded  it  with 
d';  !p  interest,  but  my  companion  Avalked  over  it  with  stupid  in- 
difference. 

I  had  this  summer  an  exegeticid  exercise,  which  was  to  prove 
by  passages  from  Scripture  that  our  Saviour,  the  second  Person 
of  the  Trinity,  acted  as  the  Creator  of  the  world.  This  was 
greatly  beyond  my  depth,  having  hardly  any  Hebrew  and  not 
very  much  Greek.  The  distinction  In'tween  Jehovah  ond  Elo- 
him  I  was  unable  properly  to  explain,  and  I  found  that  it  woidd 
be  impossible  for  me  ever  to  ac<iuire  u\,A\  fame  as  a  divine, 
though  I  hope  I  should  have  lx*en  contented  to  perform  the 
humble  and  important  duties  of  a  parish  priest  if  they  had  been 
cast  upon  me. 

The  following  winter  I  returnetl  t<»  St.  Andrews  and  still  read 
as  private  tutor  with  young  Craigie.  The  better  to  enable  me 
to  assist  him,  I  again  attended  the  lectures  in  St.  Salvator's  Col- 
lege, and  I  applied  to  mathematics  more  diligently  and  success- 
fully than  I  had  ever  before  done. 

Hitherto,  whatever  my  secret  aspirations  might  be,  I  had  no 
prospect  before  me  except  of  l)eiiig  a  Presbyterian  minister. 
There  was  a  small  country  parish  among  the  mooi-s  of  Fife 
called  Cameron,  of  which  the  incumbent  was  old  and  the  j)atron 
a  friend  of  my  father.  Here  it  was  thought  I  might  have  tin; 
good  luck  to  be  early  located. 

This  was  my  position  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1798,  when 
there  came  to  the  St.  Andrews  professors  an  application  for  a 
tutor  for  the  son  of  Mr.  Webster,  partner  in  the  great  West 
India  house  of  Wedderburn  and  Webster  in  Leadenhall  Street. 
The  appointment  was  offered  to  me,  and  I  was  eager  to  accept 
it;  but  my  father  hesitated  long  before  he  would  trust  me,  so 
young  and  inexperienced,  at  such  a  distance  from  home.  At 
length  he  consented ;  all  the  terms  were  arranged,  and  I  bade 


1798.] 


LEAVES  ST.  ANDREWS. 


29 


adieu  to  the  University  of  St.  Andrews  after  a  residence  there 
of  seven  yours. 

The  parting  from  my  father  and  sisters  at  Carslogio  was  very 
tender  and  pathetic,  aw  if  I  liad  l)een  setting  oft'  to  (jircumnavi- 
gatc  the  glolx',  or  to  settle  at  the  antip(xles.  ISfy  father  loade<l 
me  with  go<xl  advice  and  caresses,  and  my  sisters  hoped  I  would 
often  write  to  them  and  give  them  an  account  of  the  King  and 
Queen. 

At  Eth'nburgh,  I  recovered  my  spirits  in  the  company  of  my 
brother,  wlio  was  then  preparing  to  take  his  degree  as  M.D.  I 
passed  a  most  agreeable  week  with  him  attending  the  lectures  of 
Munro,  Black  and  Hope ;  and  from  what  I  saw  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Edinburgh,  I  thought  with  regret  of  the  superior  oppor- 
tunities of  improvement  Avhich  I  should  have  enjoyed  there. 

A  journey  to  London  was  in  those  days  considered  a  very 
formidable  undertaking.  I  was  to  perform  it  by  the  mail  coach, 
which  had  been  recently  established  and  was  supi)oscd  to  travel 
with  marvellous  velocity,  taking  only  three  nights  and  two  days 
for  the  whole  distance.  But  this  speed  was  thought  to  be  highly 
dangerous  to  the  head,  independently  of  all  the  perils  of  an 
overturn,  and  stories  were  told  of  men  and  women  who,  having 
reached  Ijondon  with  such  celerity,  died  suddenly  of  an  affection 
of  the  brain.  My  family  and  friends  were  seriously  alarmed  for 
me,  and  advised  me,  at  all  events,  to  stay  a  day  at  York  to  recruit 
myself.  I  thought  only  of  the  new  world  which  was  opening  to 
me.  I  was  impatient  to  behold  it,  and  I  boldly  took  my  place 
all  the  way  through  to  Ijondon. 

I  have  never  wanted  courage  to  engage  in  any  adventure  or 
enterprise  within  my  reach.  When  a  little  boy  living  with  an 
uncle  at  Ancruin,  near  Jedburgh  in  Roxburghshire,  I  expressed 
a  desire  to  be  taken  to  sec  Melrose  Abbey,  about  twelve  miles 
off.  I  was  told  the  distance  was  too  great.  The  fame  of  this 
ruin,  though  then  unsung  by  Walter  Scott,  had  laid  hold  of  ray 
imagination  and  I  was  resolved  to  see  it:  so  I  slipped  oflP  by 
myself,  walked  there  all  the  way  and  back  again,  scaling  to  boot 
the  Eildon  Hills,  cut  three  out  of  one  in  a  night  by  the  wizard 


80 


LIFE  OP   U)UI)  CAMIMIKLI.. 


[1798. 


Michael  Soott.  I  aimc  homo,  hnviiij?  'mux  liiir  Melrose  aright/ 
and  brought  away  with  inc  an  iniago  of  it  which  afterwards 
enablcii  nic  to  appreciate  the  minute  aceunuy  an  well  us  the 
jtoctical  beauty  of  the  deseriptioo  of  it  in  the  '  Lay  of  the  JjMt 
Minstrel/ 


1798.] 


JOURNKY   TO   IXJNDON. 


31 


CHAPTER  II. 

Masob,  1708— Jasuaut,  1800. 

Journey  to  Lomlon — Oocb  to  Mr.  Wobstor  on  Tutor  to  )iii  Son — Debate  in  the 
Houdo  of  Cominnng  on  tho  Hlivvo  Trado — First  Lettorn  to  IiIh  Father  and 
BrotliPr — Writno  for  tho  'Orado'  anil  tho  'Annual  lUiniHtor' — Fivo  dayi' 
Ramblo— PropoHOH  to  bocomo  a  Lawyor  inntoad  of  a  Scotii  Minuter— 
Engagomnnt  with  tho  'Morning  Chronidfi' — Leave*  the  Wob«tori. 

In  the  month  of  Marcih,  1798,  I  took  leave  of  my  native 
country  and  entered  into  the  great  theatre  of  the  world.  I  was 
only  oinhtecii  years  old,  and  according  to  the  course  adopted  in 
England  (which  I  do  not  condemn)  I  might  have  l)cen  Mtill  at 
!>ichool,  considering  whether  the  following  October  I  should  go 
to  the  University  of  Oxford  or  the  University  of  Cambridge. 
As  thingiS  turned  out  it  was  a  great  advantage  to  n>e  to  have 
IxKsn  caught  so  young.  I  had  then  no  distinct  prosiK^jt  except 
of  a  return  to  Scotland  and  the  calling  to  which  I  was  originally 
destincnl ;  but  I  began  to  have  a  presentiment  that  some  more 
brilliant  career  might  open  to  me. 

During  the  journey  I  was  entirely  o<!cupied  with  tho  new 
objects  which  presentetl  thcnLsclves  to  my  view.  "When  told 
that  I  was  actually  across  the  border  I  had  the  sensations  which 
belong  to  a  man  who  for  the  first  time  finds  himself  in  a  foreign 
land.  As  such  England  had  always  been  treated  in  my  hearing, 
although  the  whole  of  the  United  Kingdom  is  now  considered 
one  great  city.  My  father  enjoyed  much  distinction  from  having 
visited  London;  he  was  probably  the  only  man  in  his  parish 
who  could  boast  of  this  exploit,  and  he  used  to  be  listened  to 
when  relating  what  he  had  scon  as  Marco  Polo  might  have  been 
among  the  Venetians  when  describing  the  capital  of  China. 

I  had  for  fellow-travellers  two  college  companions,  Robert 
Adamson  and  George  Gillespie,  who  were  going  to  embark  for 
Calcutta  in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company,  and  were 


32 


UFK  or   I,OI(l>  <'AMI>ilKt.I,. 


[I7J)8. 


: 


iMith  fiitHl  to  (li<>  fur  troll)  their  friciuiri  ami  home.  We  were 
very  incrry,  forget tiii^  all  that  wiin  paiiil'iil  in  the  pant,  aiul  l<M)k- 
iii){  for  nothing  hut  |>h>a.>«ui'<'s  to  roiiic. 

I  wan  iiiiich  ntnick  liy  thi*  HcciM'iy  of  the  Tyiic ;  and  York 
Minister  <>anii>  up  to  all  I  ha<l  heard  <»t'  the  glories  of  the 
Cathedral  of  St,  Aiuh'ewH  lM>fore  it  wan  hiirnt  down  hy  Knox. 
The  rest  of  the  journey  was  rather  unintereHtiiig  to  uh  ehildntn 
of  the  iiioiiiitain  and  the  tlo<Ml.  At  laxt,  after  passin^j;  a  third 
iii^ht  in  the  mail  <'oaeh,  we  perceived  hy  the  iniineiiMe  rowH  of 
hrieU  hoUM's  throuji;}!  whieh  we  were  paswing  that  we  were 
upproaehing  liondon ;  and  after  rattling  over  Htonos  for  a  mile 
or  two,  wc  were  net  clown  in  the  yard  of  the  Bull  and  Mouth 
inn,  near  Ht.  Paul'M. 

Having  hreakfiwtwl,  we  wdliwl  forth  on  foot  to  take  a  view 
of  this  wonderful  city.  Nothing  ho  iniieh  astoniMhc<l  u.s  as  itti 
iioiMe.  Kor  the  Hinoke  we  had  heen  pretty  well  prepartnl  hy  the 
appearance  of  'Aiild  llei^kie,'  but,  though  oinnihuHes  then  were 
not,  the  din  of  the  eontinuourt  rows  of  eouehos,  enrts,  wagons  and 
drays  moving  in  (»pposite  directions  actually  stunned  us,  and  we 
eoncliuh'd  that  as  to  hear  in  the  midst  of  it  was  impossible,  we 
should  in  vain  try  to  speak.  When  we  got  lieyond  Charing 
Cross  we  had  a  little  relief,  and  we  could  express  to  each  other 
our  sense  of  the  magnificenci!  of  the  scpiares  at  the  west  end  of 
the  town  and  the  beauty  of  the  Serpentine  and  Hyde  Park. 

My  comj)anions  had  to  present  themselves  at  the  India  House, 
and  I  wiLs  to  find  out  the  residence  of  jSIr.  Webster,  on  Claphnm 
Common.  Thither  was  I  carried  by  the  Clapham  stage,  and  I 
was  instidled  in  my  new  ollice.  Mr.  Webster  was  a  very  good- 
natured  but  not  very  wise  man,  and  I  soon  discovered  that  he 
had  not  much  authority  in  his  own  house.  3[adamt'  was  mistress 
in  everything.  She  was  young,  !)eautiful,  gay  and  fond  of 
admiration.  My  pupil  was  a  boy  of  about  nine  or  ten  years  of 
age  who  had  been  taught  to  read  English  pretty  well,  but  whom 
I  was  to  initiate  in  the  first  rudiments  of  Latin. 

I  had  no  ])articular  grievance  to  complain  of,  and  I  believe  I 
was  treated  with  all  the  consideration  that  could  have  been  rea- 


1798.] 


niWT  IMPRESaiONfl. 


33 


iM)iiul)ly  oxpo<!tcil ;  hut  I  found  my  Hituation  from  the  lK>ginning 
wry  irkw)nu>,  iiixl  it  Immmiiik!  iiion;  iiikI  iiioru  uiilH>umhlo.  Tho 
(K)m|MUiy  IVcqui'iitinK  th<'  houw?  t'«HHi«ti«<l  j-hirHy  of  Went  Iu<hu 
mcrchiUitH  luxl  Kant  India  captaitiM,  and  thu  coiivi-i'sation  tuniiHl 
on  thu  priti!  of  Hii^^aix,  tho  rate  of  firi^htn,  and  tht;  trifling;  ^oMip 
of  the  (hiy.  One  intorcstinj^  |M>rM>n  I  r(>rnenil)vr  mooting,  Sir 
John  Wj-^hhThurn,  who  with  his  fathor  had  ln-on  'out  in  the 
'45/ and  whoso  fathor,  having  hold  an  olliot!  uiah'r  th<?  l*roton(h'r, 
had  Ih'ou  hangod,  lH>hoa(U>d,  and  (|uartorod  on  Konnington  Com- 
mon. Boing  ankod  whothor  ho  woro  not  of  tho  family  of  Lord 
Loughl)orongh,  thon  Chaiu'ollor,  ho  ropliud,  'The  ChancoMor  in 
of  mine,'  and  I  U'lieve  that  Sir  .Fohn  was  tho  true  chief  of  the 
WcddorhurnH.  He  Htill  bore  the  title  of  Imronet,  though  it  hud 
lH>cn  forfeited  on  tho  attainder  of  his  father;  but  at  the  death 
of  this  soi-diHant  Sir  .John  there  wits  u  fresh  grant  of  the  baro- 
nctey  to  his  son  Sir  David. 

I  went  fre(iuontly  to  London,  where  I  was  kindly  reoeivcd  by 
friends  of  my  father ;  by  Mr.  Knox,  an  American  merchant  from 
Cupar;  by  Dr.  John  (iray,  likewise  from  Cupar,  who  had  been 
in  the  profession,  now  obsolete,  of  travelling  tutor,  who  had 
repeatedly  made  the  grand  tour  with  young  English  noblemen, 
and  who  on  tho  recommomlation  of  I^ord  Fortescuo,  his  laat 
l)upil,  had  been  made  Secretary  to  the  Lottery,  with  liandsome 
apartments  in  Somerset  House ;  and  also  by  Dr.  William  Thom- 
son, wlio  had  been  at  college  with  my  father,  and  who,  residing 
in  London  as  an  author  by  profession,  had  gained  some  notoriety 
by  the  'History  of  the  Man  in  tho  Moon'  and  other  political 
satires.  At  the  house  of  this  gentleman,  in  King  Street,  West- 
minster, I  saw  a  good  deal  of  litemry  society,  and  my  ambition 
was  inflamed  to  become  an  author  myself.  At  Thomson's  sug- 
gestion I  wrote  an  essay  in  support  of  a  legislative  union  with 
Ireland,  a  measure  then  projected  after  the  suppression  of  the 
Rebellion.  Some  parts  of  this  performance  were  jjraiscd  by  him, 
but  others  so  severely  criticised  that  I  committed  the  whole  to 
the  flames.  Thomson  became  editor  of  the  'Annual  Register/ 
and  I  afterwards  wrote  for  him  some  articles  in  the  historical 


;(4 


l.irK  OK   1X>HU  CAMIMIKI.I.. 


LI  798. 


iI<'(Niriin<>iit,  uliicli  wi*r«>  iiriiitctl  luitl  wliirli   I   linvi>  n[ii(*«>  mul 

without  a  Itliisli. 

My  t'atlM'r'K  ^;i'«'at  ImhimI  ww  (liilt  lii>  liiiil  M•^l\  (iai't'irk,  aiul  I 
liiKcrly  went  to  tli«<  tlicutrr.  It  \n  not  xo  y;i'<>at  a  iHHiMt  to  liuvo 
Mt'ii  John  Kciiilil<>  aiwl  Mi'H.  SiiMoiH,  lait  thfv  «'Xfi>r«|i'(|  any 
notion  I  ha<l  t'orninl  of  hintrionic  «'Xf<'||i>n<-f,  an<l  I  MUi^|H'ct«'«l, 
though  unjustly,  that  th<>  |)r«<rt>ri>iici>  to  any  ih'partnl  ai-tor  t'oitld 
only  Im'  ^ivin  l»y  the  *  laiiilntnr  hiiiii<irln  urtl.' 

I  wa;^  wivtrhni  until  I  had  \h'vu  in  the  llnnsc  of  ConiinonN. 
A  motion  of  Mr.  WillK'i-foii'i'  fot'th«>  ininicdinlc  aliolition  of  the 
mIuv*!  tra<h' HtiHxl  for  th<>  third  of  April.  It  wiih  «'X|M'ct<><l  that 
all  th(>  p;rnit  HprukfrH  on  Intth  Hid<>r«  would  takt>  part  in  the 
dithutc.  I  ol)tuin<><|  a  inrniiH'r'rt  ordrr  for  the  pillcry,  an<I  pr«'- 
H<>nt(Hl  rnyrtdf  ut  the  d<»orof  the  stairs  hiulin^  to  it  at  ten  o'cjcK'k 
in  tJH!  morning.  Thrri'  was  a  trcmmdouM  riiHJi  when  the  dtMtr 
wiw  o|M>n(!<l.  I  was  lut'ky  <<nony;h  to  ^(>ta  front  neat,  wliilc  many 
wore  for(!iHl  into  tlu'  'nlavo  ship,'  a  passa^o  Ix-hind  tl»'  rhw-k 
whoro  thore  wtM  only  stand iny;  r<M>in  and  the  hrat  and  i>rrssMr(> 
were  inMUpiK)rtul)l(>. 

TluM  waM  thu  most  mcmorahic  day  of  my  life.  The  time 
puHfHHl  uway  qui(;kly  in  ('onvorsation  r*-sp(><'tin)r  the  coming  ilchatc, 
and  with  jestH  upon  thosi;  who  WiM't;  voluntarily  sulU'rin^i^  all  th(> 
horrors  of  the  '  middl<>  passa<;(>.'  At  length  distinguished  mcndx'rs 
lx»p;au  to  come  in  and  take  their  plaees  ;  and  what  were  my  sensji- 
tions  on  HC'oin^  Ix-tore  me  nx  n  of  whom  I  had  heard  and  read 
and  thought  «o  much,  Imt  whom  till  very  roci-ntly  1  luul  ncvor 
hoped  to  behold ! 

Now  yran  the  most  splendid  era  in  the  history  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  this  debate  was  one  of  the  finest  ever  heard  w  ithiii 
its  walls.  If  Peel,  tlu^  best  performer  we  now  have,  had  then 
risen  to  state  oflic^ially  the  result  of  the  papers  laid  upon  the 
table  respecting  the  iiuj)ortation  of  negroes  and  the  priee  of 
colonial  produce,  he  would  have  done  it  clearly  and  he  would 
have  been  respectfidly  though  coldly  listened  to;  but  if  h<!  had 
attempted  such  eloquence  a.s  I  lieard  from  him  last  session  in  the 
peroration  to  his  much  applaud(><l  sp<'ech  on  the  inconu!  tax,  he 


1708.] 


liKHATK  «)H   TIIK  MI.AVK  TllAI>K. 


36 


would  liiivc  Im>«<ii  laii^liHl  lit  or  ruii^hcil  down.*  '  MiiNiiiiiM 
tulfiitM'  \\v  HOW  litiv*',  Itiit  r«'iil  tiiK*  M|H'iikiiip;  Im  koii(>  lor  ovi*r. 

At  rtvr  WillHTforri'  I'lwi'  iukI  till'  «l«'t'|M'«t  MilfiH-i!  iirrvailifi, 
lli>  wiiM  Iw'tinl  wiili  II  niixtiii-i' ot' iitliiiiriKioii  and  ri>v«'n>ii<<i',  IIIm 
^fiiiiiiir  HiiMM'rity,  hi"*  |M«i'l"n't  di>*int«'n'«*tt'dii<'H»«,  Iiih  d<>voti>diM*H8  to 
the  ruiiMt',  IiIm  fxultnl  toiii:  nl'  iiionility,  his  di>r|»  ri'li^ioiiH  t<'«'linp4, 
^iiv<<  II  Molriiiiiily  uiul  ^at'i'itliit'oM  to  liin  mutincr  wliicli,  uiiitf<l  with 
liiM  |H't>«inHivt' lVtl.'4ollill^,  his  |iliiylul  iiiiiip;iiin(ioii,  hin  rnny  <>lo<'ii- 
tioii,  iiiid  his  iiiiisictil  voi(^>,  tttrrird  I'lithtisiii^tir  roiivictioii  ami 
niptiii-oii.s  drli^ht  into  ihf  l)rni.st,s  of  all  prt'Hcnt  who  w«<n>  iinin- 
tliicnt'i'd  Ity  sordid  motives  lor  romit«'tiiiii<*iii^  th«>  trallh*;  an<l 
diniiiay,  shame,  and  almost  rfmors«>,  into  the  hearts  ol'  those'  who, 
from  a  love  of  private  ^ain  or  a  dread  «)f  injury  to  the  ptihiie 
from  loss  of  eommere«>,  had  steelnl  themselves  ay;ainst  the  dietHUt* 
of  reuMtn  and  humanity. 

Mr.  Mryan  Kdwards,  the  authi>r  of  the  '  History  of  the  W«'Hf 
Indies,'  followed,  and,  as  the  adv<M>ateof  (he  planters  and  Liver- 
|KM)I  merchants  trading  to  Afri<'a,  (*ont«>ntled  that  the  opiHMitioii 
to  tilt;  slave  trade  was  founded  on  i^;noranee  and  fanatieism.  He 
was  answered  hy  Mr.  (vanning;  in  on(>  of  his  earliest  and  happitvtt 
ett'usions. 

After  Ilenrv  'I'hornton  and  s<'veral  inferior  sp«'akers  had 
shortly  addressed  the  House,  up  rose  l*itt  himself,  and  delivere<l 
:i  most  splcndiil  oration  in  favor  of  immediate  alHtlition,  which 
ho  declared  was  not  lens  imperiously  retpiirwl  hy  tho  interest  and 
sjifety  of  the  West  India  islands  than  hy  the  ohlij^itiimn  of 
morality.  \o  one  whil<>  listening  to  his  fervid  el<Mpience  coidd 
then  (piestion  his  sincerity,  hut  there  is  no  longer  a  doubt  that  lie 
was  insincere,  and  that  he  was  merely  j)layinji[  the  ^ame  which 
he  thoit^rht  the  m»*st  skilful  as  minister  and  leader  of  a  l'.'>rty,  to 
denotince  the  trallic  which  he  was  resolved  to  uphold.  Xotwith- 
standiii)^  the  stronji'  Icjinin^of  the  Court  and  a  certain  section  of 
the  aristfM-racy  in  it*<  favor,  hi^  mij«;ht  have  carried  the  abolition 

*T\m  relVr*  to  Peel's  groat  Budget  Mpeooli  ir  1^42,  whon  from  tho  deficient 
state  of  tho  rpvunuo,  as  loft  by  tliu  Whigs,  i.o  boldly  proposed  a  tenipornvy 
reimposition  of  tho  income  tax — SuptenilKT,  1860. 


\ 


LIFE  OP  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1798. 


at  any  hour  had  he  been  so  inclined,  and  his  hostility  was  after- 
wards proved  to  be  colorable  by  his  encouraging  the  employment 
of  British  capital  in  the  importation  of  slaves  into  the  captured 
colonies.  As  long  as  he  lived  and  ruled  the  trade  went  on  with 
increasing  enerjry,  and  with  multiplied  miseries  to  its  victims. 

Sir  W.  Young  boldly  insisted  on  the  necessity  of  continued 
imi)ortntion  to  keep  up  the  stock  of  slaves  in  our  West  India 
islands,  and  asserted  that  the  negroes  were  happier  there  than  in 
their  own  country. 

Charles  Fox  then  sprang  upon  his  legs,  and  in  glowing  colors 
exposed  the  horrors  and  the  impolicy  of  the  trade.  But  the 
finest  part  of  his  speech  consisted  in  sarcastic  insinuations  that 
his  great  rival  was  insincere.  He  highly  eulogized  Pitt's  speech 
and  declared  that  on  no  subject  discussed  in  Parliament  since  he 
was  minister  had  he  displayed  more  strikingly  his  powers  of 
reasoning  and  eloquence.  *  Measures  which  posterity  would  con- 
demn and  which  were  reckoned  of  very  doubtful  policy  by  the 
present  generation  he  had  been  able  to  carry  by  overwhelming 
majorities,  no  one  connected  with  his  government  venturing  to 
hint  disapprobation.  How  happened  it  then  that  all  his  reason- 
ing and  all  his  eloquence  and  all  his  influence  produced  no  effect 
in  the  cause  of  unhappy  Africa?*  After  a  lapse  of  more  than 
forty  years  the  conclusion  of  his  speech  is  fresh  in  my  recollec- 
tion. The  Bishop  of  London  had  recently  made  a  complaint 
that  the  ballet  in  the  Haymarket  was  sometimes  not  over  till 
past  twelve  o'clock  on  Saturday  evenings ;  and  there  had  been 
petitions  to  Parliament  which  had  received  some  countenance 
praying  for  a  prohibition  of  all  travelling  on  the  Loi'd's  day. 
'There  are  among  us  men  who  would  make  a  law  that  the  cur- 
tain at  the  opera  house  shall  fall  every  Saturday  night  before 
twelve,  and  who  would  shut  themselves  up  in  the  house  the 
whole  of  Sunday,  professing  it  a  sin  to  take  a  walk  in  the  fields 
to  admire  the  beauties  of  nature  and  to  adore  the  bounty  of 
Providence,  and  who  at  tiie  same  time  palliate,  vindicate  and 
vote  for  this  odious,  cruel,  demoralizing,  unchristian  traffic  in 
human  flesh.    Your  little  exterior  observances  so  far  from  being 


1798.] 


DKBATE  0N  THE  SLAVE  TRADE. 


37 


a  substitute  for  true  piety  will  be  an  aggravation  of  the  wrongs 
you  commit,  as  showing  that  you  consummate  your  guilt  by 
hypocrisy,  the  deepest,  the  blackest,  the  most  odious  vice  by 
which  the  human  character  is  debased.' 

Mr.  Windham  concluded  the  debate  with  a  specimen  of  his 
ingenious,  quaint,  chivalrous,  sophistical  style  of  speaking,  by 
which  I  was  often  afterwards  amused  without  being  convinced. 
He  admitted  that  negro  slaveiy  was  a  bad  thing,  almost  as  bad 
as  the  state  of  the  Fren(!h  under  the  republic,  and  he  wished 
that  it  never  had  existed :  but  the  question  waa  whether  imme- 
diate abolition  was  the  cure?  *  We  must  not  suppose  that  evils 
are  always  to  be  remetlied  by  the  mere  reversal  of  what  had 
caused  them.  If  a  man  were  pitched  from  an  attic  window  into 
the  street,  you  could  not  set  his  broken  limbs  by  tossing  him  up 
again.'  He  was  really  actuated  by  the  dread  of  innovation 
which  in  the  progress  of  the  French  Revolution  was  so  strong 
as  to  induce  Burke  to  defend  secret  imprisonment  in  *  the  King's 
Castle'  the  Bastille,  and  Gibbon  to  deprecate  the  abolition  of 
the  Inquisition  in  Portugal. 

The  motion  wixs  lost  by  a  majority  of  four,  the  amount  of 
which  was  probably  arranged  by  George  Rose,  the  Secretary  to 
the  Treasury,  with  a  view  of  saving  the  slave  trade  and  keeping 
up  the  hopes  of  the  abolitionists  and  the  credit  of  the  Minister. 

After  hearing  this  debate  I  could  no  longer  have  been  satisfied 
with  being  *  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly.' 

However,  I  exerted  myself  to  the  utmost  for  the  improvement 
of  my  pupil,  and  I  continued  with  him  for  nearly  two  years;  at 
the  end  of  which  time,  if  he  was  rather  deficient  in  longs  and 
shorts,  he  Avas  well  acquainted  with  the  principles  of  grammar, 
he  had  a  goo<l  notion  of  composing  in  Latin  prose,  and  he  could 
read  and  be  amused  with  Ovid's  *  Metamorphoses.' 

Mr.  Webster  purchased  a  fine  country  house  at  Shenley  Hill 
in  Hertfordshire,  where  we  spent  the  following  summer.  Mi-s. 
Webster,  wishing  to  take  a  lead  in  fashionable  life,  induced  her 
husband  to  rent  a  splendid  mansion  at  the  west  end  of  the  town, 
first  in  Bruton  Street  and  then  in  Upper  Grosvenor  Street.    She 


38 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPllELL. 


[1798. 


did  not  think  it  gcnteol  that  her  sou'h  tutor  should  sleep  ov  cat  in 
the  house,  and  to  my  groat  satisfaction  lodgings  were  taken  for 
me  in  Conduit  Street,  my  api)ointmcnt8  were  increased  that  I 
might  provide  for  my  own  board,  and  unless  during  the  hours 
of  study  I  was  entirely  my  own  master. 

[From  the  time  that  my  father  came  to  London  he  kei>t  up  a 
regular  corresjjondence  with  his  father  In  Cupar  and  with  his 
brother,  then  studying  in  Edinburgh.  Most  of  his  letters  have 
been  preserved,  and  from  them  we  learn  the  particulars  of  his 
life  during  his  early  years.  The  following  letter  was  written 
about  a  month  after  his  arrival  in  Tjondon  and  a  few  days  after 
the  debate  on  the  slave  trade. — Ed.] 

Clapham  Common,  April  10, 1798. 

My  dear  Father  : — How  happy  am  I  to  hear  at  last  that 
you  are  all  well !  It  is  exactly  four  weeks  to-day  since  I  received 
your  last  letter.  I  have  been  several  times  in  London,  and  have 
paid  veiy  agreeable  visits  to  my  friends  there.  I  saunter  about 
everywhere,  and  I  believe  I  have  seen  everything  accessible  which 
is  worth  seeing  in  this  vast  metropolis.  I  have  been  in  St.  Paul's, 
Westminster  Abbey,  the  Towei',  &(:  I  find  my  way  as  easily  in 
London  as  in  Cupar,  Fife.  I  have  an  excellent  plan  of  the  town 
which  I  consult  always  before  1  leave  Clapham,  and  carry  along 
with  me. 

I  went  to  the  theatre  on  Monday  to  see  Mrs.  Siddons  in  Isabella, 
and  was  infinitely  delighted  with  her.  I  doubt  whether  Garrick 
ever  was  so  great  notwithstanding  all  you  say  of  him. 

I  had  afterwards  rather  a  disagreeable  part  to  play.  Returning 
home  soon  after  twelve,  I  rang  in  vain  for  admittance,  and  Avas 
obliged  to  walk  back  to  London  and  take  refuge  in  the  Hummums, 
Covent  Garden.  Thei-e  is  no  danger  of  being  robbed  near  Lon- 
don as  there  was  in  your  time.  The  roads  are  all  lighted  and 
guarded,  and  I  have  walked  home  repeatedly  after  dai'k  without 
any  molestation. 

It  is  impossible  for  me  at  present  to  attend  a  master  for  reading 


1798.] 


LErrEU   TO   OK<JFU»i;   (JAMI'JIELL. 


39 


Eii}fli.-ih^  Tlio  (liistaiuH!  from  town  i«  too  great  to  allow  me  to  go 
there,  aiul  no  one  of  eminence  lives  near  us.  I  have  been  laboring 
under  a  mental  indolence  since  I  left  you,  but  I  now  begin  to  get 
the  better  of  it.  The  following  plan  I  now  mean  strictly  to 
follow :  Be  dressed  by  weven.  Study  langtiages  and  mathematics 
till  breakfiLSt.  Thence  till  twelve  composition.  Then  begin  my 
pedagogic  duties.  At  half-past  c  o  I  go  out  and  walk  till  three. 
Then  comes  another  lesson.  Dine  at  foiu*.  English  and  geography 
between  five  and  six.  Walk  till  seven.  Tea.  Read  English  till 
nine.  Supper.  I  return  to  my  room  about  ten  and  amuse  myself 
with  lounging  books  till  I  am  sleepy  and  go  to  bed. 


er  for  reading 


Cliiiiliam  Common,  June  6,  1798. 

My  dear  IJuoTiiEK: —  ...  I  am  not  at  all  sorry  that  the 
application  for  the  living  of  Legerwood  failed.  I  take  it  to  be 
in  the  most  dreary  part  of  Scotland,  and  at  all  events  I  have  not 
the  most  distant  desire  to  be  settled  as  a  minister  for  six  or  eight 
years  to  come.  Not  that  I  have  any  aversion  to  the  pi.-^loral 
office.  On  the  conti'ary,  the  more  I  s(,'e  of  the  world  I  am  the 
more  convinced  of  its  vanity,  and  I  am  more  fully  persuaded 
that  there  is  as  much  happiness  to  be  enjoyed  in  a  manse  as  in  a 
palace. 

Last  Thursday  I  saw  the  London  and  Westminster  I.lght 
Horse  Volunteers  reviewed  by  the  King  on  Wimbledon  Com- 
mon. Tlieri!  are  about  600  in  the  corps — all  gentlemo'  of 
fortune,  and  their  horses  would  all  fetcth  at  least  100  gu  ,  as 
apiece.  There  were,  it  is  said,  5000  carriages  on  the  ground, 
and  I  can  swear  there  Avere  as  many  as  would  reach  from  King- 
horn  to  the  banks  of  the  Tay. 

Slienley  Hill,  Herts,  August  9,  1798. 

Mv  BEAR  Father: — The  family  left  Clapham  on  July  10, 
but  I  was  left  behind  in  Surrey  for  a  fortnight.  During  this 
time,  exce])t  thrice  when  I  went  to  London,  I  saw  not  a  human 
being  with  whom  I  could  converse.  But  with  books  I  do  not 
feel  solitude,  and  the  days  rolled  on  neither  unpleasantly  nor 


:  iit 


I 


I 


40 


LIFE  OP  LORD  CAMPnELL. 


[1798. 


unprofitably.  About  a  week  after  I  rwoived  your  last  I  went 
to  your  old  friend  and  elat*sfellow  Willie  Thomson  and  asked 
him  to  give  me  some  work.  He  expressed  himself  in  a  vcr}' 
friendly  way,  and  said  he  would  be  very  happy  if  I  would  write 
for  him.  He  gave  me  some  Iwoks  to  review,  and  desired  me  to 
compose  an  essay  as  a  specimen  of  my  ability.  I  have  sent  to 
him  this  morning  my  review  of  the  books  and  thirty-five  (juarto 
pages  closely  written  upon  'The  Necessity,  Practicability,  and 
Advantages  of  a  Ijcgislativc  Union  between  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland.'  You  shall  hear  of  their  fate  in  my  next.  If  I  were 
asked  like  Solomon  what  I  most  covet,  I  should  answer,  a  good 
English  style. 

35  Warwick  Street,  Golden  Square,  November  22, 1798. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  Since  I  came  back  to  London  I 
have  had  an  oifer  of  a  reportership  to  a  newspaper.  I  rejected 
it  without  hesitation,  although  I  should  have  had  a  very  good 
salary.  This  is  a  mode  of  life  which  I  shall  not  embrace  with- 
out necessity.  I  have  become  acquainted  with  Peter  Stuart, 
editor  of  the  *  Oracle,'  and  have  engaged  to  write  an  article  in 
his  journal  which  he  calls  *  Novelties  of  Literature,'  a  review 
of  all  the  new  publications.  I  intend  to  be  very  industrious 
this  winter,  for  the  sake  of  my  mind  rather  than  of  my 
purse.  .  .  . 

Warwick  Street,  November  28, 1798. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  have  procured  several  literary  engage- 
ments to  exercise  my  pen.  I  have  undertaken  to  review  books 
and  translate  French  newspapers  for  the  editor  of  the  '  Oracle,' 
and  have  made  a  more  serious  arrangement  with  Willie  Thom- 
son I  received  a  note  from  him  last  Saturday,  desiring  me  to 
call  upon  him.  When  I  went,  he  told  nie  he  had  been  engaged 
by  the  booksellers  to  write  the  historical  part  of  the  'Ainmal 
Register'  for  the  year  1792,  which  was  still  in  arrcar,  and  that 
he  wished  me  to  assist  him.  He  assigned  me  the  History  of  the 
French  Colonies  in  the  West  Indies  during  that  period,  and  I 
have  promised  to  furnish  him  with  a  chapter  on  this  subject 


1798.] 


LITERARY   PURSUITS. 


41 


iber  28, 1798. 


in  a  fortnight.  I  shall  have  to  do  little  more  than  abridge 
Edwards's  History  of  St.  Domingo.  I  interrogated  him  about 
my  former  compositions,  of  which  he  had  taken  no  notice.  He 
said  that,  though  abounding  in  erroi*s»,  thoy  showed  considerable 
reading,  judgment,  and  acumen,  that  my  reviews  would  do  very 
well,  but  that  what  I  had  written  on  the  Irish  Uni<m  was  not 
calculated  to  strike  the  public  mind.  This  critique,  although 
severe,  was  not  more  so  than  I  expeiited  or  deserve<l.  By 
employing  me  now  he  shows  that  he  does  not  think  my  faults 
incorrigible.  My  opinion  of  myself  becomes  lower  and  lower 
every  day.  I  have  no  longer  the  most  distant  hope  of  ever 
composing  with  elegance,  or  of  making  any  figure  in  the  literary 
world.  I  can  only  wish  for  some  retreat  where  I  might  employ 
myself  in  writing  sermons  and  fattening  pigs,  where  I  might 
live  and  die  unknown. 

Warwick  Street,  December  16, 1798. 

Mv  DEAR  Brother  : —  ...  My  attention  is  always  occti- 
pied  with  some  literary  pursuit,  and  I  have  never  felt  a  moment's 
ennui  since  I  came  to  town.  I  live  very  economically.  I  dine 
ut  home  for  a  shilling,  go  to  the  coffee-house  once  a  day,  four- 
pence  ;  to  the  theatre  once  a  week,  three  and  sixpence.  My  pen 
will  keep  me  in  pocket-money.  I  this  day  begin  a  job  which  I 
nuist  finish  in  a  fortnight,  and  for  which  I  am  promised  two 
guineas ;  but,  alas !  Willie  Thomson  paymaster !  He  owes  me 
divers  yellowboys  already.  I  go  no  farther  than  to  write  the 
history  of  the  last  war  in  India  for  him  till  he  pays  me  all.  I 
have  given  up,  foolishly  I  believe,  my  engagement  with  the 
'  Oracle,'  the  office  of  historian  being  more  noble  than  that  of 
newspaper  critic  and  translator. 

Warwick  Street,  April  1, 1 799. 

My  bear  Father: —  ...  I  shall  never  get  on  in  this 
town,  and  the  sooner  I  come  back  to  you  the  better.  I  am  con- 
demned to  perpetual  neglect  and  obscui'ity.  Did  I  cringe  and 
flatter  and  fawn,  I  should  certainly  be  noticed,  however  indif- 
ferent my  character  and  however  desjiicablo  my  talents.     But  I 

VOL  I.  2* 


i 


42 


LIFE  OF  LOltO  CAMPJIKLL. 


[1709. 


am  proud  as  well  ns  |KX)r,  and  I  muMt  ov<'r  roinain  iieglectwl 
and  obscure.  One  wuy  my  foolinh  i'aii<  y  once  HUj^gestod  to  me 
by  whioh  I  might  raise  myself  from  I  lie  ground,  but  experience 
ha8  dispelled  the  illusion,  and  I  find  that  I  am  as  little  qualified 
for  literaturc  as  for  everything  else.  1  am  rwonciled  to  the 
galling  truth,  *  Vivcndum  et  moricndnm  ed  milii  ignoto.'  My 
ambition  now  is  to  find  some  secure  retreat,  where  forgetting 
and  forgotten  I  may  sj)end  the  curriculum  vito'  cnfo  ihttum  in 
gloomy  peace  and  dospemte  contentment.  I  have  st)me  thoughts 
of  setting  out  in  search  of  such  a  retreat  *  Where  wild  Oswego 
spreads  her  swamjis  around;'  but  if  you  cjui  j)r(M'ure  me  a 
living  in  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  you  will  save  n>e  the  trouble  of 
crossing  the  Atlantic. 

No.  18  Warwick  Stroet.Qoklon  Square,  April  2, 1799. 

My  DKAit  BnoTHEii : —  ...  I  am  about  to  leave  liondon  in 
a  fortnight.  AVhither  I  shall  then  go  I  am  perfectly  uncertain; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webster  and  the  family  retiirn  to  the  country,  but 
it  appears  extremely  improbabh^  that  I  shall  accompany  them. 
I  may  probably  return  to  Scotland  immediately.  I  might  con- 
trive to  make  my  bread  in  Ijondon  i)retty  well,  I  believe,  but 
from  many  considerations  I  imagine  it  will  be  more  prudent  to 
'arise  and  go  to  my  father.'  It  will  be  a  little  mortifying,  to  be 
siu'c,  to  revisit  Caledonia  as  poor,  obscure  and  dependent  as  when 
I  left  it.     All  is  for  the  best. 

I  suppose  you  are  noAv  attending  the  mcidical  classes  at  Edin- 
burgh. Since  I  wrote  you  I  have  attended  two  meetings  of  the 
'T^yceum  Medicum  Londinense.'  Visitors  are  allowed  to  speak. 
The  finst  night  they  were  discussing  the  subject  of  'fever,'  and, 
after  hearing  all  the  different  theories,  I  ro,se  to  j)ropose  a  new 
one  which  would  have  completely  overthrown  the  Cullinian,  the 
Brownonian,  and  the  Sydeidiamian,  but  unluckily  at  that  moment 
the  clock  struck  eleven  and  the  society  disper.setl.  Next  night  I 
had  no  desire  to  speak  upon  the  question,  but  wishing  to  hear 
the  0])inion  of  this  learned  body  upon  the  constant  intermission 
of  my  pulse,  f  made  the  fellow  who  took  me  in  state  my  cjuse  to 


1799.] 


FIVE   DAYH    RAMDIiE. 


48 


the  WKjiety.     Hotne  wiid  it  |)nM'('<'«l('<l  from  iiii  <)(wifi(«ti<ni  of  the 

valvort  of  tlu'  heart,  mmw  from  (h'billty,  hoiuo  one  thing,  some 

aiiotiior ;  Imt  I  wa-<  liappy  at  htxt  to  hear  from  one  fellow  that  uu 

irregular  |)Ii1n  wn.s  hy  no  meanH  uncommon,  and  that  it  hud  been 

provi'tl  by  several  phyMieians  to  be  the  ease  witli  ut  least  one  man 

ill  tiiirty.  .  .  . 

Shonloy  Hill,  May  ""   1799. 

My  J)Kar  Fatiikii: —  .  .  .  You  will  be  happy  to  '<"';n  thiit 
I  am  here  in  liijrh  health  and  spirits. 

I  intended  to  iiial<e  a  pedestrian  tour,  ehieHy  that  1  might 
visit  the  celebrated  city  (»f  Oxford.  Having  left  London  on 
Saturday  morning  with  my  siatl"  in  my  hand,  I  had  just  passed 
Turnham  Green  Avlien  1  was  overtaken  by  u  gentleman's  servant 
in  livery  driving  a  handsome  gig  with  a  saddle  horse  tied  to  it. 
'Going  down  this  road?'  *To  Wiiulsor.'  *1'11  give  you  a  east 
so  far  if  you  please,  for  I  goes  to  Oxford.  Master  went  down 
last  night.'  'To  Oxford!  For  how  much  will  y<Jii  take  me 
with  you?'  'Five  shillings,  your  honor.'  At  the  end  of  the 
fir.st  stage  I  got  the  gig  to  myself.  You  can  form  no  idea  of  the 
tignre  I  cut,  or  the  resjieet  paid  to  me.  When  I  Mtopj)ed  ut  an 
inn,  four  or  five  waiters  surrounded  me  to  receive  my  commands, 
and  no  sooner  did  1  ap|)roaeh  a  turnpike  than  the  gate  flew  open 
and  I  passed  without  paying,  the  toll  collector  saying,  'Your 
servant  will  pay,  I  suppose,  sir.'  I  slej)t  that  night  at  Henley, 
and  reached  Oxford  next  morning  to  breakfast. 

Having  with  nmch  delight  viewed  many  colleges,  halls,  libra- 
ries and  ehurelies,  I.ba<le  adieu  to  this  famous  seat  of  learning, 
overwhelmed  by  its  exterior  grandeur,  but  with  no  resi)ect  for 
its  antiquated  institutions. 

I  thought  I  had  left  myself  daylight  to  walk  to  Thame,  a 
distance  of  only  fourteen  miles,  but  owing  to  the  roughness  of 
the  chalky  road,  darkness  closed  upon  me  while  1  knew  not  how 
far  I  might  be  from  my  destination.  I  lost  my  way,  was  caught 
in  a  thunderstorm,  and  met  with  strange  adventures,  which  will 
amuse  the  public  when  they  read  my  '  Five  Days'  Ramble.'  At 
last  I  reached  my  inn,  and  was  consoled  by  a  blazing  ingle  and 


44 


l.lh'K  Ot'   LUHU  C'AMl'HKI.L. 


[i7oy. 


a  gtxxl  HUpper.  I  hml  [)cvi\  rnthcr  apjix'oably  cxcittHl  by  the 
ouvelty  iiiul  ronmncc  of  my  Hitiiution.  '  MiHi'urtunc  is  not  nlways 
unhuppiiu'Sri.' 

Next  (lay  I  huil  a  delightful  \vull<  t«>  Jhickinghiuu.  The  view 
of  a  nol>U'  rivet'  wiiiding  throiij^hu  pietureH<pieau<l  hi^^lily  culti- 
VuttMl  eouiiti'v  iiiiule  ine  thinly  of  the  K(h>ii  iiiul  itA  pamnia  hvta. 
I  thoufi^ht  that  I  wiM  never  nior(>  to  encounter  ditHeultieH  in  this 
life.  Dut  you  nuiMt  now  nuppow  lue  netting  out  from  the  *  White 
Hart'  at  lUieivingham  alnnit  neven  o'cloeic  on  Tue^hiy  morning, 
while  a  hurrieane  bUnvH  and  a  deUige  desi-endw.  Till  I  reatihetl 
Woburn  1  wa.s  pelted  by  the  pitileKS  storm.  Then  it  clearetl  up, 
and  I  was  rewardetl  by  seeing  the  Duke  of  licnlford's  house,  park 
nnd  gardens,  among  the  finest  in  England.  On  I  pushed  to 
Leighton,  where  they  were  holding  a  great  cattle  fair,  and  thence 
to  Dunstal)lc,  which  I  at  last  reachwl,  nuich  fatigued  and 
exhausted.  Here  I  thought  all  my  troubles  were  over,  but, 
alas !  they  were  oidy  begimiing.  The  iinis  were  so  crowded,  or 
my  dnigglcd  appearance  was  so  nuich  against  me,  that  none  of 
them  would  a<lmit  me.  Having  in  vain  tried  the  'King's  Head' 
and  the  'IJlue  Hoar'  and  the  'Three  Pigeons,"  and  the  'Plough' 
and  the  'Pell'  and  the 'Sugar  Loaf  and  the  'Swan,'  I  was 
^jroccediug  for  St.  Albans,  when  in  the  suburbs  I  spied  a  house 
with  a  cock  erected  before  it  as  a  sign.  It  looked  most  desolate, 
but  here  I  was  glad  indeed  to  obtain  a  night's  liHlging.  1  believe 
it  is  a  resort  of  thieves  and  poachers,  but  1  safely  escaped  from 
it  early  next  morning,  not  however  without  paying  an  extrava- 
gant bill.  The  weather  was  again  beautiful  beyond  conception 
and,  had  my  feet  not  Ik'cu  blistered,  I  should  greatly  have  enjoyed 
the  walk.  About  two  miles  from  Dunstable  I  was  overtaken  by 
the  Ijiverpool  stage-coach  on  its  way  to  London.  I  jt)yfully 
mounted  the  box,  and  thus  travelled  through  St.  Albans  to  Ridge 
Hill,  within  a  short  distance  from  the  house  in  which  I  am  now 
writing  to  you. 

Thus  by  a  little  energy  did  I  successfully  complete  my  tour; 
improving  an  opportunity  for  acquiring  knowledge,  and  snatching 
from  destiny  five  days  of  happiness. 


1799.] 


SCHEME  OF  STUDYINO    LAW. 


46 


Hhonl'v  mil,  Juno  H,  1790. 

My  dear  HitoTiiEK : —  ...  I  hnv«  iiK'^i"  ^)""'  l>(>I)ct>  of  a 
troiiHlation.  Meiinwhilt!  I  uin  tiyiiig  my  liuiul  at  ii  piM'tn  u[k)u 
*  The  Art  of  Fliitt«ry.'  I  luul  not  Ucii  iiiH|iin'(l  hy  tin;  inuscii 
niiuf  the  time  I  wrote  * ('urHloj;;ie,  u  Pastoml,'  till  one  day  hitely 
when  the  phren/y  neizinl  ine,  and  1  wrote  fifty  lines  beforf  I  nwe. 
1  Hent  it  to  ('iipar.  Our  father  allowM  it  no  merit,  | tartly,  I 
l)elieve,  from  the  appn'hension  that  leaving  the  Chureh  I  may 
lH>eome  a  p(M;t.  1  am  HatisMe<l  that  this  'm  not  my  path  to 
immortality ;  but  I  write  vjTHeM  for  two  reiwons — fir.U,  a.**  a 
pKuHimt  |>aritime;  iiiecondly,  a.s  a  inetluHl  of  improving  my  htylu 
in  pro.se. 

10  Uppor  (Jrosvonor  Stroot,  London,  Docombor  11,  1709* 

My  DEAK  FATHER: —  .  .  .  If  the  renuneiation  of  my  Mcheme 
of  abandoning  tlie  Church  be  the  only  price  of  your  forgivcnej^, 
I  fear  I  shall  not  soon  ceiwc  to  mourn  under  your  displeasure. 
I  atu  the  more  cnamore<l  of  n>y  selieme  the  more  I  consider  it. 
My  faiMiy  is  not  heated  to  such  a  degree  that  I  do  not  see  ninny 
and  formidable  obstncles  to  its  execution ;  but  I  am  firmly  con- 
vinced that  they  are  by  no  means  insurmountable. 

Those  who  struggle  with  the  greatest  difficulties  at  first  are 
finally  the  most  successful.  You  know  how  poorly  off  Tom 
Erskine  was  while  a  student.  Mr.  Pitt  was  obliged  to  pawn  his 
chambers  in  Lincoln's  Inn  before  he  WJis  called  to  the  bar.  You 
did  not  know  perhaps  that  Billy  Avas  a  lawyer.  Burke,  and 
half  the  statesmen  who  have  flourished  in  England,  had  ])re- 
viously  studied  at  an  inti  of  court.  The  greatest  advantage  of 
a  knowledge  of  the  law  is  that,  besides  enabling  you  to  enter  a 
most  lucrative  and  honorable  profession,  it  fits  you  for  a  thousand 
other  situations,  to  fill  which  without  it  you  would  have  been 
in('a])able.  Some  people  could  be  extremely  happy  with  a  country 
kirk  in  Scotland.  I  am  no  longer  of  the  number — not  from  any 
dislike  to  obscurity,  but  from  a  horror  of  inaction.    When  I  am 


*The  letter  in  which  Mr,  Campbell  first  communicated  to  his  father  his 
scheme  of  studying  the  law  cannot  be  found. — Ed. 


46 


I, IKK  ol'    i.olll)   (AMI'liKl.r. 


[17!M>. 


t>iii)iloy«<«|  I  itiii  liii|i|>y.  Wht'ii  I  am  iillc  I  uiii  ini-t'rnlilc.  Now, 
I  tu'vii'  rxci't  iiiyHt'lf  without  al>r«oluh-  lu>tT^«r*ity,  iiimI  I  fiiitl  no 
pli'iiMiiri!  ill  t«'c«liii^  pi^  or r'liclliii^  |m>iih.  Amu  country  niiniMtt'r, 
tlicrct'ort',  I  r^hoiild  Im>  the  inoi^t  iiiisci'iililr  of  liuiiiiiii  lH>ii);rH,  anil 
not  iiii|>rol)al>ly  hIiouM  at  hiMt  Im'coiuc  coiiiplctcly  i|cntn^«><l.  Ah 
a  reporter,  ami  afterwanlH  w  a  lawyer,  I  r*liall  In>  ohli^od  to  In> 
huHy  every  hour  of  the  day,  and  nhall  have  no  tini(>  to  indulp* 
in  gloomy  and  diHtreHnin^  reflectionH,  In  Scotland  I  nhould  \h' 
nearly  cut  oti' Iron)  thu  Htreanis  of  I lelieon  ;  in  London  I  have 
only  to  kneel  down  and  drink  my  till.  I  shall  pass  my  life  in 
the  eentre  of  the  republic  of  Icttern,  and  my  unwearied  asniduity 
may  iH>rhapM  obtain  some  of  its  honor^i.  It  is  folly  to  think  that 
happiness  con.sistH  in  trampiillity  and  ease.  Man  was  madi^  to  l)c> 
uctive.  A  busy  life  is  mor«>  exposed  to  sutlcrinj;,  but  it  certainly 
onjoyrt  a  j?reater  surplus  of  felicity.  The  peacetui  lake  in  often 
ehoked  with  wee<ls  and  putrid  from  staj>;nation.  The  waters  of 
the  nu)untain  stream  which  foams  amidst  rtK'ks  and  <laslies  over 
prtH'ipiees  are  vwr  limpid  an<l  sweet ;  it  fcrtili/<'S  and  a<h>rns  the 
country  through  which  it  flows.  .  .  . 

[His  father  appears  to  have  granted  a  reiuctant  consent  to  his 
m^heme  of  remaining  in  London  to  study  law,  and  in  the  Auto- 
biography we  have  the  following  ae«'ount  of  an  engagement  with 
the  'Morning  Chronicle'  which  enabled  him  to  carry  out  his 
purpose. — Ed.]  ' 

....  My  resolution  was  fixed  by  an  offer  n(tw  nuide  to  mc. 
At  St.  Andrews  I  had  been  ac(|uainted  with  Robert  Spankie, 
considered  by  far  the  (cleverest  man  of  his  year,  afterwards 
Advocate-({eneral  at  Cah-utta,  a  (Queen's  Sergeant  and  A[end)er  of 
Parliament  for  Finsbury.  H(!  was  then  (alitor,  and  part  [)roprie- 
tor  of  the  *  Morning  ('hronicle'  newspajjcr  along  with  Mr.  .James 
I'erry,  who  by  his  tidents,  honor,  consistency  and  gentlemanly 
manners  had  conferred  great  crwlit  on  tlu;  newspaper  press.  I 
had  renewed  my  acquaintance  with  Spaidiic  on  coming  to  Lon- 
don, and  had  now  formed  an  intimate  friendship  with  him.  I 
was  pleased  with  his  political  essays,  which  were  admirable,  and 


IHOO.] 


LRAVRM  TIIK   WKIIHTP.R8. 


47 


I  witKMtill  inoru  plvtiMtl  with  IiIh  wit  and  plfiimtntry,  which  uftcr- 
wiiiiIm  MTiiri'il  (o  hiiu  th«>  rfputution  oC  lN>iii^  th<>  uumt  u^nu'uhlo 
('iiiii|utiii<)ii  ill  tht'  i>roi(>HHioii  of  tht^  law.  lluviiif^  ^tiit<'«l  my 
\  i<'\v.'«  tiiitl  (lillii'ultics  to  him,  hi>  iin<lcrto(>k  to  get  nic  an  (>ii(;ag(>> 
iiK'iit  to  foiiti'ihiiti'  to  tht!  'Morning  ('ht'oiiiclt>,'  which  would  Iw 
ciitiivly  comiHitibh^  with  th(>  ntudy  of  the  hiw,  and  which  would 
IKTinit  mo  mor»»  fn>(!ly  to  dovot*'  mywclf  t«»  it  than  if  I  were  to 
d<'|M'iid  on  more  prccai'ioiiM  soui'irrt  of  iiicomo. 

I  h'ft  tho  \Vc'lwtor«  on  very  friendly  tiriiiK, and  I  continiUHl  to 
vir^it  thi'iu  and  to  Lki  tmitcd  hy  them  with  kindiiosH.  Mr.  VVub- 
.stor  within  u  year  uftvrwardri  died,  and  hin  widow  contruotcd  a 
M'ooiid  marriagi!  with  a  gontlcman  of  the  name  of  Douglus. 
They  aftcrwarda  coiiMulte<l  mo  alxmt  their  alliiiiH  when  I  waa 
rising  to  emineiico  at  the  luir,  and  I  had  the  Matirifaetion  of  lM>ing 
of  eoiiHiderahle  UHe  to  them.  Thehon  wa-i  sent  ton  |iiihlie  Mehoul, 
eiiterwl  the  army,  marriitd  a  daughter  of  tlie  Earl  of  Mount- 
iiorri(«,  and  l)ecumc  Sir  JameM  Wubutor  Weddorburn. 


4» 


I.IKL  OK    l.(>l(l>  (  AMI'UKM.. 


[laiK). 


CUAFrEH  III. 

Javuart,  lAOO— Auoutr,  180S. 

Taknii  IiodninK"  in  Tuviitock  Uow.Covont  (lanlfln— D«pftrluro  of  hit  Brother 
lor  tlin  Kant  lii'li-'n— Trial  of  |{a>llli4<l— Firit  Vint  to  HcotUnd— Koturn 
to  Lon>liin  by  Son — Movi'«  to  UtanhopA  Mtrent,  Clare  Market — Kntnra  at 
TiitKolti'x  Inn— Takim  Cliarnliom  in  Iiinculn'ii  Inn  —  Hnpurtt  rartinrnontary 
Ddbuti'n — A<lrnitii»triUion  ot'  Mr.  Adilington  —  Ksuurtion  to  Margate  and 
Brighton— I'reliminarion  of  Toaco  with  Franco— Newi  of  hit  Brother— 
Triiil  of  Oovormir  Wall — Treaty  of  Aniiens— Contoit  for  the  County  of 
Kvnt— I'rupoital  to  viitit  Parii. 

London,  January  Irt,  18(X). 

My  dkau  Fatiikii: — I  now  write  to  you  for  the  hwt  tituc 
tVom  l-|>|K'r  (Jrosvoiior  Strcot.  Hcforo  you  roct'ive  thiti  I  mIiuU 
Imvt'  I'Hti'iH'd  U|M)n  the  oHict'  of  npoit*  r  to  a  uc'WM)Hi|>or.  •  Uiw\\, 
\m\AMiitu\i,  unmatt'ful  l)oy,'  you  will  way,  '  Im  this  the  return  you 
iimke  lue  for  all  my  kindliest? '  Jiid^e  nie  not  unheard.  I 
were  a  wretch  indeinl  if,  after  the  lettt-r  whieh  you  wrote  to  nie, 
I  slioiiM  take  any  ftep  I  believed  you  would  diHiipprove.  Hij^h 
as  luy  opinion  was  of  your  liberality,  genenwity,  afVeetion  and 
tenilernesH,  and  j^reat  as  were  my  own  filial  reverenee  and  pi(!ty, 
upon  p<'ru.sin<r  your  last  letter  your  eharaeter  rose  in  my  e«teeni, 
and  my  veneration  and  love  fell  little  Hhort  of  idolatry.  As  I 
folded  it  up,  1  vowed  in  a  fit  of  enthu.^^iasm  that  it  should  be 
the  constant  study  of  my  life  to  render  myself  worthy  of  eueh 
a  father.  I'his  object  I  fi'ar  1  shall  never  be  able  to  attain,  but 
I  trust  that  its  attainment  will  not  be  retardecl  by  my  eonduct 
in  this  alliiir.  I  did  not  take  the  decisive  step  till,  convinced  of 
its  jiropriety  njyscif,  I  was  also  convinced  that  had  my  father 
been  upon  the  spot,  lie  would  have  Hunctioued  it  with  his 
un<iualified  apim)bation. 

Notwithstanding  all  you  have  said,  the  plan  of  studying  law 
possesses  many  charms  for  me,  and  this  is  the  only  way  I  can 
ever  possibly  curry  it  into  effect.     Since  you  are  go  decidedly 


1800.] 


IJXI'F.NflKP*  OP   I.tVINO   IK   l/)KT)OK. 


aKniiiNt  tho  pn>j«<«>t,  I  niiull  not  vnU^r  at  ihw  Tomplit  for  M>m« 
inonthN,  hut  I  cnii  hy  no  iiicniiM  pn'vuil  on  niyM>lt'  to  ubiuuloD 
it,  luid  if  I  (in<l  myiu'tf  «'onif'ortnlil<>  in  my  nvw  itituation,  I  (t>iir 
I  hIiiiII  not  lon^  In>  nhUi  to  ri>f«iMt  thu  t4>ni|itation  of  trying  niy 
luck  in  tht>  lottery  of  fortuni'.  I  niiiHt  enter  u|Hin  laiMineMM,  no 
(loul>t,  with  ){reut  (iJMiulvantnKe,  U'ln^  ho  nunpletely  friendletw, 
hut  I  Himll  have  iin  o|)|Mtrtunity  of  Mtudyinfj;  in  no  rettfM'-'t 
inferior  to  thoHe  who  art)  tillowetl  two  or  thre<!  huii<lre(l  a  yenr 
hy  their  friendn. 

l*m(!tie(!  at  the  Kii^IIhIi  hir  (le|M>n«lM  hy  no  nieauM  ho  nitieh 
u|>on  family  intereHt  an  at  the  Seoteh,  an<l  wh*H>ver  (liHtinKuiHlies 
himM(>lf  Ih  Hure  of  employment.  Thomt  who  have  |M)werful  eon« 
neetionH  no  (|oul)t  have  a  much  lM>tter  op[M)rtunity  of  dinplnying 
their  talentH,  hut  if  they  are  dull  or  disnipated  no  intorest  how- 
ever great  can  push  them  on.  They  muHt  yield  to  thotne  who, 
joining  attention  to  talent,  have  nhone  into  noti<^>  notwitltHtnud- 
ing  the  Hdiuingly  impenetrahle  fog  in  which  fate  had  enveloped 
them.  For  otie  who  can  enter  into  any  other  advantageous  line 
of  life  with  a  prolNihility  of  miccertn,  I  think  it  would  l)C  folly 
ever  to  think  of  hecoming  a  lawyer — the  chant'e  is  four  to  one 
that  he  fails ;  hut  though  I  fail,  I  nhall  have  the  c(»nsolation  to 
reflect  that  I  have  sacriilccd  nothing  hy  th(>  fruitless  attempt. 
There  certainly  is  a  chance  of  my  suc<'c«'(ling,  and  why  should 
I  not  try  it,  when,  though  I  am  unsuccessful,  1  shall  Ik;  exactly 
in  statu  quo  I  should  have  been  had  I  never  made  an  attempt? 

3  Taviitork  Row,  Covont  Qardon,  Fobruary  17,  1800. 

My  dear  Fatiikh  : — I  b<>gin  to  feel  less  forlorn  than  I  did 
the  first  week  after  my  brother  left  me,  and  I  dure  say  that 
after  I  am  a  little  habituated  to  the  business  I  shall  1k>  as  happy 
in  n>y  present  as  I  could  be  in  any  other  situation.  I  have  got 
a  couple  of  ro<mis,  for  which  I  pay  only  nine  shillings  a  week. 
Of  course  the  air  I  breathe  is  pretty  poetical,  but  it  is  the 
purer  for  that.  I  generally  dine  at  a  house  where  my  dinner 
and  drink  cost  me  two  shillings  and  two  i)ence,  yet  I  find  it 
the  cheajjest  house  in  London.     I  never  think  of  supper.     My 

VOL  I.  § 


60 


LIFE   OF  LORD  CAMPBKL1« 


[1800. 


greatest  (lesiderutuia  is  eligible  soeiety.  When  my  business  is 
over,  perhuj>s  about  seven  or  eight  o'eloek,  I  ll'el  very  niueh  at  a 
loss  how  to  pans  away  the  evening.  I  hate  to  drink  with  a  parcel 
of  dissipated  rejjorters,  and  I  hate  to  return  to  n»y  cold,  dreary 
apartment.  My  inclination  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  law  is  by 
no  means  diminished  by  having  attended  a  term  at  Westminster 
Hall.  !N<ttwithstanding  the  severe  shocks  my  vanity  has  of  late 
sustained,  I  still  think  I  could  make  a  better  figure  than  many 
who  are  reckoned  fii*st-rate  lawyers.  1  on(>  day  lately  (consulted 
my  friend  Mr.  Gray  upon  the  subject,  and  the  cold,  the  phlegmati<', 
the  timid  John  Gray  said  that  he  thought  the  i)lan  very  rational, 
and  that  I  was  uncommonly  well  cut  out  to  succeed  at  the  bar. 
I  must  however  in  fairness  tell  you  that  I  had  just  before  been 
flattering  him  highly  about  a  jjamphlet  he  has  recently  published 
on  the  Irish  Union. 

I  am  extremely  obliged  to  Jess*  for  her  incpiiries  about  tli<' 
state  of  my  linen,  &c.  She  supplied  me  with  such  an  excellent 
stock  before  I  left  Scotland,'  that  I  shall  not  need  any  more  for 
a  long  time  to  come.  I  was  extremely  sorry  that  George's  sudden 
departure  prevented  me  from  sending  anything  to  her  and  the 
rest  of  the  girls.  .  .  .  God  bless  you  all. 


I  is    i  -:ii 


3  Tavistock  Row,  Covont  (.ianJen,  May  29,  1800. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  embrace  the  opjjortunity  of  Mr.  Wil- 
son going  down  to  Scotland  to  send  you  George's  miniature.f 
It  has  been  daily  bedewed  with  my  tears  since  it  came  into  my 
possession,  and  I  suri*ender  it  to  you  with  reluctan(!e.  You  would 
receive  a  letter  from  him  dated  on  the  23d,  when  the  vessel  was 
imder  way.  The  wind  has  since  been  favorable,  and  he  is  now 
far  from  the  shores  of  England.  1  must  sui)j)ress  my  feelings 
on  this  occasion,  lest  I  should  add  to  the  poignancy  of  yours. 
We  should  all  consider  that  in  proportion  as  it  is  bitter  for  us  to 


*  His  eldest  sister. 

f  Mr.  George  Campbell  had  obtained  an  appointment  in  the  Medical  Service 
of  the  East  India  Company.  After  passing  some  weeks  in  London  he  had 
embarked  on  board  the  '  Lady  Jane  Dundas,'  at  Portsmouth  for  Calcutta. — Ed. 


1800.] 


HIS  BROTHER  DEPARTS   FOR   INDIA. 


51 


part  with  him  on  account  of  his  goo<l  qualiti*:^,  we  have  the 
greater  chance  to  see  him  soon  return  independent,  virtuous,  and 
happy.     Let  us  be  of  good  cheer  and  trust  in  God. 

Perry  told  rae  a  few  days  ago  that  he  meant  to  raise  my  salary 
considerably,  and  that  he  would  give  me  as  soon  as  I  pleased  a 
draft  for  the  difference  between  the  increasetl  salary  and  my 
oriffinal  allowance  since  the  time  I  entered  with  him.  This  is 
certainly  very  handsome.  As  soon  as  I  get  the  money  I  shall 
send  you  down  de  quoi  to  pay  the  balance  due  from  George  to 
the  paymaster  of  his  regiment. 

I  have  time  to  add  no  more.    My  tender  love  to  my  sisters. 


Thursday  evening,  quarter-jmst  five  o'clock,  June  26, 1300. 

My  dear  Father: — Hadfield  is  acquitted.*  I  am  this 
moment  come  from  attending  his  trial.  The  defence  was  inter- 
rupted by  Lord  Kenyon,  as  it  evidently  appeared  that  the 
prisoner  when  he  fired  at  the  King  had  been  completely 
deranged.  He  has  now  come  to  his  .senses,  but  will  be  confined 
for  life.  I  have  got  a  great  part  of  the  trial  to  write  out,  and 
must  on  that  account  make  this  note  extremely  short.  .  .  .  The 
postman's  bell  rings. — J.  C.  .      . 

London,  July  7, 1800. 

My  dear  Father: — I  sit  down  to  write  you  a  few  lines, 
though  very  few  they  must  be,  as  I  am  obliged  to  go  to  the  Houibo 
of  Coininons  in  half  an  hour.  I  had  dctef  mined  to  dedicate  yester- 
day forenoon  to  the  task  of  giving  you  a  i'ull  account  of  my  present 
views,  but  just  a.s  I  had  taken  the  pen  into  my  hand,  I  was  sum- 
moned to  the  office  to  translate  French  papers.  ...  I  intend  to 
leave  Loiulou  on  Sunday,  July  27.  Till  within  these  few  days  I 
had  firmly  resolved  to  walk  down,  but  the  excessive  heat  of  the 
weaiher,  the  large  expeii.sc  I  .should  be  put  to,  and  the  delay  it 
would  occiision  in  my  arrival  at  Cupar  (no  one  of  which  I  can  at 


*  Hadfield  was  prosecuted  for  shooting  at  George  III.,  and  defended  by 
Erskint!. — Howell's  State  Trials,  vol.  xxvii.  p.  1282.  See  account  of  the  trial 
in  Lives  of  the  Chief  Justices,  vol.  iii.  p.  37. — Kd. 


i)Z 


LIFE  OF   LORD  C  VMPBELL. 


[1800. 


t'l 


presout  well  bear)  have  deterred  me  from  my  purpose,  and  I  am 
now  resolved  to  trust  myself  to  the  waves,  deferring  my  tour 
through  Cumberland  and  the  West  of  England  till  my  return 
southwards  in  September I  certainly  have  not  the  small- 
est objection  to  go  through  part  of  my  probationary  trials  as  you 
desire.  Whatever  I  may  afterwards  undertake  I  can  be  no 
worse  for  having  been  pro])osed  to  the  Presbytery  and  the  Synod. 
I  fear  I  am  very  much  rusted  in  my  knowledge  of  theology. 
That  I  may  be  able  to  make  a  decent  figure,  I  beg  you  will  have 
some  of  your  standard  books  ready  Ibr  me  when  I  arrive.  When 
I  am  in  low  spirits  and  sitting  ak»ne  in  my  gloomy  garret,  I  con- 
template with  })leasure  the  idea  of  being  licensed  and  procuring 
a  settlement  in  the  Church.  I  sjiurn  it  when  I  hoar  the  eloquent 
addresses  of  Law,  of  Gibbs,  of  Erskiue,  and,  while  my  heart 
burns  within  me,  a  secret  voice  assures  me  that  if  I  make  the 
attempt  I  shall  be  as  great  as  they.  Whether  this  impulse  is  the 
admonition  of  God  or  the  instigation  of  the  Devil  we  shall  dis- 
cuss at  length  when  we  meet.  ... 


< '  i  'li 


!    .:''l; 


3  Tavistock  Row,  Covent  Garden,  July  28, 1800. 

My  dear  Sister: —  .  .  .  You  told  me  you  were  anxious 
with  regard  to  the  time  of  my  departure  from  London.  The 
precise  day  I  cannot  fix,  as  it  does  not  entirely  dejoend  upon  my- 
self, but  I  believe  we  sail  on  or  about  Sunday  next.  Parliament 
sits  a  week  longer  than  was  expected,  otherwise  I  should  now 
have  been  upon  my  way. 

I  am  convinced  that  I  cannot  devote  myself  to  the  Church, 
and  I  feel  strongly  that  I  ought  on  that  account  to  abandon  all 
thoughts  of  entering  it.  Respect  for  the  opinion  and  wishes  of 
my  father  alone  restrains  me  from  renouncing  all  claims  to  the 
clerical  dignity.  Upon  mature,  sober,  deliberate,  dispassionate, 
and  cool  consideration  I  am  firmly  convinced  that  I  ought  to 
turn  my  sole  and  undivided  attention  to  the  law.  I  assure  you 
that  it  is  a  sense  of  duty,  rather  than  inclination,  that  prompts 
me  to  the  arduous  undertaking.  I  have  little  doubt  that  I  my- 
SL'lf  should  pass  my  days  much  more  happily  as  a  parish  parson 


1800.] 


VIEWS  FOR  THE  FUTURE. 


AS 


than  as  an  eminent  lawyer;  but  I  think  that  when  the  path  to 
wealth  and  fame  in  oi)cn  to  any  man  he  is  bound  for  his  own 
sake,  but  much  more  for  the  sake  of  his  friends,  to  enter  it  with- 
out hesitation,  although  it  should  be  steep,  rugged  and  strewed 
with  thorns.  I  declare  to  you  most  seriously  that  I  have  scarcely 
a  doubt  that  I  should  rise  at  the  English  bar.  The  reasons  which 
lead  me  to  be  thus  confident  of  success  are  by  much  too  numer- 
ous to  be  stated  in  a  letter.  I  have  the  most  encouraging  exam- 
ples before  me.  I  see  men  at  the  toj)  of  the  profession  who 
entered  it  without  m(»Mey  and  without  friends,  whose  abilities,  I 
may  say  without  subjecting  myself  to  the  slightest  imputation  of 
vanity,  are  not  superior  to  my  own,  and  whose  industry  and  exer- 
tions were  inferior  to  what  mine  would  be.  If  my  father  could 
allow  me  £200  a  year,  you  will  admit  that  I  should  aspire  to 
some  higher  object  than  the  Kirk  of  Scotland.  I  am  now  in 
eveiy  respect  as  able  to  prosecute  the  study  as  if  I  had  such  an 
allowance.  Taking  out  of  consideration  the  courts  of  law,  which 
I  should  attend  at  any  rate,  I  am  certain  that  upon  an  average 
I  shall  not  be  employed  above  three  hours  a  day.  These  three 
hours,  were  I  an  indej)endent  student  at  the  Temple,  I  could  not 
possibly  spend  more  ])rofitably  than  in  attending  the  debates  in 
Parliament,  and  in  writing  them  out.  You  may  laugh;  but  my 
present  situation  is  an  admirable  school  for  the  bar.  If  my 
hejilth  continues  good,  and  if  I  do  not  greatly  change  my  senti- 
ments in  Scotland,  and  if  my  father  will  sanction  the  plan  with 
his  consent,  when  I  return  to  London  I  shall  take  chambers  in 
the  Temple,  and  commence  the  study  of  the  law  with  a  deter- 
mination not  to  abandon  it  till  I  have  found,  from  cxjjerience, 
that  I  have  overrated  my  talents,  application,  and  good  fortune. 
Without  my  father's  consent  I  never  shall  enter  upoii  the  enter- 
prise, nor  shall  I  cvei-  attempt  to  a\  rest  it  irom  him  by  force  or 
importunity.  I  believe  that  he  would  receive  more  pleasure 
from  me  as  a  lawyer  than  as  a  minister;  but  if  he  is  not 
convinced  by  the  arguments  I  offer,  I  shall  conform  myself  in 
everything  to  his  wishes.  It  shall  be  the  study  of  my  life  to 
promote  his  happiness;  and  obeying  hv  (!C)nimiuids  I  know  well 


V 


64 


lilFK   <U'    J,<H{li    CAMCBKLL 


LI  800. 


is  the  HUi'cst  way  to  promote  my  own.  In  the  viHions  of  fancy 
I  oometinies  flatter  myself  he  niay  sec  me  at  no  distant  period 
atuiining  to  professional  eminence  and  a  greater  man  than  I 
could  possibly  be  by  entering  the  Church.  One  single  speech  or 
one  single  publication  may  be  the  means  of  making  my  fortune. 
Giving  evidence  of  the  profoundcst  abilities  in  Scotland  is  like 
a  flower  wasting  its  fragrance  in  the  desert,  or  a  gem  si)arkling 
at  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  whose  lustre  is  marked  only  by  the 
stupid  inhabitants  of  the  deep.  Although  I  am  friendless  at 
present,  I  am  not  sure  that  it  ought  to  be  assumed  that  I  shall 
be  without  friends  six  years  hence.  During  that  long  period 
surely  some  opportunity  will  occur  of  forming  desirable  connec- 
tions, and  every  opportunity  I  shall  sedulously  improve.  In 
about  six  years  after  I  am  called  to  the  bar  I  expect  to  have  dis- 
tinguished myself  so  much  as  to  be  in  possession  of  a  silk  gown 
and  a  seat  in  Parliament.  I  shall  not  have  been  long  in  the 
House  of  Conuuons  before  I  interest  the  ISIinister  in  my  favor 
and  am  made  Solicitor-General.  The  steps  then,  though  high, 
are  easy,  and,  after  being  a  short  time  Attorney-General  and 
Master  of  the  Rolls,  I  shall  get  the  seals  with  the  title  of  Earl 
Auld-Kirk-Yaird.  I  am  sorry  that  this  last  sentence  has 
escaped  me,  iis  it  is  the  only  one  that  did  not  come  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart,  and  as  it  tends  to  tlirow  an  air  of  ridicule 
over  everything  I  have  said.  xVt  the  same  time  I  do  not  think 
that  Lord  Thurlow,  Lord  lioughborough,  Lord  Kenyon,  or 
Lord  Eldon  had  a  better  chance  at  my  age  of  filling  their  high 
offices  than  I  now  have  of  succeeding  them.  There  is  nothing 
like  aiming  at  something  great.  'Bade  a  goon  o'  goud,  &cJ* 
Say  every  day  'I  will  be  Lord  High  Chancellor  of  Great 
Britain,'  and  you  will  be  made  a  Puisne  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas. 

My  heart  always  beats  when  I  think  of  our  meeting,  and  in 
some  unaccountable  manner  my  sensations  are  by  no  means 
unmixed  when  I  anticipate  the  scene.     God  grant  I  may  find 


* '  Wish  for  a  gown  o'  goud  and  ye'U  aye  get  a  sleeve  o't.' — Scotch  proverb. 
—Ed. 


h 


)  i: 


'i.     "' 


1800.] 


RETURN  TO  LONDON   BY  8EA. 


w 


you  all  well,  cointortiible  and  happy.     Adieu,  my  dear  Jess.     I 

shall  ever  remain, 

Your  most  aftectionate  Brothei^ 

J.  Campbell. 

[After  the  visit  thus  anti<!ipatc{l  had  taken  place,  the  corres- 
pondence is  renewed  as  follows :] 

Lowestoft,  Monday,  Soptombor  22, 1800. 

My  dear  Fatiieu: — licst  you  should  be  anxious  for  my 
safety  from  the  hiu'd  gales  of  wind  which  we  have  had  for  some 
days,  I  now  sit  down  to  set  your  mind  at  ease  by  informing  you 
that  I  am  at  present  on  dry  land,  and  do  not  mean  again  to  tempt 
the  dangers  of  tlie  sea.  It  is  exactly  a  week  since  we  left  Leith, 
and  I  ]iav(!  suftercsd  as  much  as  would  fall  to  the  lot  of  other 
mortals  in  a  twelvemonth.  Except  for  a  very  few  hours  the 
wind  has  blown  quite  in  onr  teeth,  and  everything  cons]>ired  to 
(ihagrin  me.  \^^len  I  set  out  I  was  in  hopes  I  should  pass  my 
time  very  agrc(>ably,  as  there  was  a  genteel  and  pleasant  family 
whit  Ii  oc(!upicd  the  after-cabin ;  but  the  ladies  have  been  con- 
stantly sick,  and  it  was  impossible  for  any  stranger  to  be  admitted. 
The  rest  of  the  passengers  were  the  lowest,  the  most  vulgar,  and 
the  most  illiterate  of  mankind. 

You  ha'l  roped  my  trunk  so  very  hard  that  I  could  not  unrope 
it,  and,  not  being  very  anxious  as  the  lock  was  broke,  I  have 
never  yet  inspected  its  cont<!nts,  and  have  been  without  books, 
sea  stores  or  vhmi  li.icn  tlie  whole  voyage.  I  escaped  sea-sick- 
ness, but  I  do  not  know  if  I  should  consider  this  a  blessing,  as 
I  remained  niorc  sensible  to  the  horrors  of  my  situation.  My 
reflections  and  anticipations  were  not  of  the  pleasantest.  I 
walked  the  deck  by  myself  the  whole  day  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  night,  imd  hitherto  was  not  altogether  unliappy ;  but  on 
Saturday  night  a  gale  of  wind  springing  up  fron\  the  south 
raised  such  a  sea  that  the  waves  dashed  over  the  deck  every 
minute,  and  all  the  passengers  wei'e  confined  below.  No  words 
could  describe  the  scene  there  exhibited.  Some  were  sick,  and 
some  were  swearing.     Two  sucking  children  screamed  as  if 


66 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBKLL. 


[1800. 


roofltcil  on  gridirons.  Their  motherH  wt>r(>  sick  to  douth,  and  thu 
uir  WU8  08  bud  an  tlmt  in  the  Bhick  Hole  ut  Culciittu !  We  never 
were  in  the  least  danger,  except  perhapM  in  ply'iig  into  Yurnionth 
Roods.  Then  a  perfect  hurricane  blew  right  ahead  of  U8,  and 
wo  were  obliged  to  work  through  a  chainiel  not  many  yard.s 
brood.  We  touched  almost  every  two  minuter,  and  had  the  .Mhip 
disobeyed  the  helm  for  a  moment  we  must  all  have  jrone  to  the 
bottom.  We  anchored  opposite  this  tt)wn  (which  is  about  eight 
miles  from  Yarmouth)  early  yesterday  morning.  I  waitotl 
patiently  a  whole  day  in  hopes  that  the  wind  would  change,  but 
it  now  blows  fresh  from  the  S.  W.  and  the  sky  looks  angry  and 
threatening.  Unable  any  longer  to  bear  up  under  such  a  com- 
plication of  misfortunes,  I  found  moans  to  get  on  shore,  though 
with  considerable  danger,  and  1  am  determined  to  go  up  to  town 
.'n  the  Yarmouth  coach.  I  should  suffer  incredibly  remaining 
with  the  ship,  and,  though  not  much  niore,  I  believe  I  have 
enough  to  pay  my  seat  outsi<lo  the  '  Tel(!graph.'  The  distance 
is  little  more  than  u  hundred  miles. 

I  feel  rather  dreary  when  [  think  of  going  to  London,  where 
I  am  without  a  home  and  without  a  friend ;  but  I  must  banish 
reflection  if  I  would  not  be  wretched.  1  fear  much  that  my 
conduct  distresses  you ;  but,  alas !  I  know  nothing  which  I  can 
say  to  comfort  you.  I  have  bid  a  final  adieu  to  the  Church, 
and  if  I  fail  in  my  hazardous  undertaking  I  shall  bury  my 
head  in  some  retreat  far  removed  from  my  native  land. 

Y''ours  most  afleetionately, 

J.  C. 


Tavistock  Row,  Covent  Garden,  October  4, 1800. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  was  on  Wednesday  made  happy  by 
the  receipt  of  yours  of  the  27th.  I  would  have  answered  it  in 
course,  but  till  this  day  I  did  not  kno\\'  where  to  desire  you  to 
address  to  me  in  future.  Any  thanks  I  could  oifer  would  be 
but  a  poor  return  for  your  unj)aralleled  kindness  and  generosity. 
I  shall  therefore  wait  till  I  may  testify  by  my  conduct  how 
sensible  I  am  of  your  goodness.     After  my  letter  fi'om  Lowes- 


1800.] 


PROM   LEITI£  TO  ORAVE8END    BY  SEA. 


67 


toft,  you  will  not  Ik;  a  little  surjjriscd  to  hear  that  I  artimlly 
went  again  aboard  the  '  Caledonia,'  and  mnic  round  to  London 
by  Hea.  A  few  minutoH  afttir  I  had  put  my  letter  into  the  post- 
office,  I  perceived  that  the  storm  had  couHiderably  abated,  and 
that  the  wind  was  rather  more  favorable.  The  captain  and 
some  of  the  passcngerw  came  on  shore,  and  after  dining  with 
them  I  was  persuade*]  to  return  to  the  vessel.  I  had  reason  to 
repent  my  fickleness.  The  wind  soon  shifted  alwut  to  the  ohl 
quarter,  and  wjis  nearly  as  violent  as  ever.  In  two  days,  how- 
ever, we  were  carried  by  the  strength  of  the  spring-tides  to 
Gmvcsen.d,  where  I  went  oji  shore.  I  came  up  to  liondon  by 
the  stage-coach.  T  have  since  been  living  in  my  old  lodgings, 
and  jogging  on  with  the  ncnvspaper  in  the  ordinary  way.  All 
my  grand  plan  about  the  Temple,  alas !  is  knocked  on  the  head. 
There  is  not  a  set  of  chambers  to  be  had  there,  nor  in  any  of 
the  respectable  Inns.  I  am  a  good  deal  vexed  at  this,  as  I 
think  I  could  have  lived  very  comfortably  and  very  economi- 
civlly  with  Maiy  Bruce.*  Your  goodness,  however,  in  sending 
me  so  many  table-cloths,  towels,  tVrc.,  M'ill  not  be  without  advan- 
tage to  me,  as  I  have  taken  the  second  floor  of  No.  6  Stanhope 
Street,  Clare  Market,  which  I  am  to  furnish  myself.  I  get  it 
unfurnished  at  the  rate  of  ^£18  a  year,  including  £2  a  year  for 
service.  I  am  now  in  the  receipt  of  three  guineas  a  week,  and 
I  am  to  have  four  when  Parlinment  meets.  I  have  just  learned 
that  a  translation  of  *  L'Hommc  Invisible '  has  been  published 
by  Lane,  the  great  bookseller  in  Leadenhall  Street.  I  have  so 
often  met  with  disappointments  resembling  this  that  I  comforted 
myself  by  thinking  that  I  had  improved  my  skill  in  translating. 
I  mean  to  enter  myself  at  the  Inner  Temple  the  first  day  of 
Michaelmas  term.  The  sum  to  be  advanced  is  considerable, 
but  I  shall  by  that  time  be  very  well  able  to  afford  it.  I  am 
now  quite  well,  and  pass  my  time  very  agreeably.  Spankie  got 
me  made  free  of  Drury  Lane  Theatre,  and  I  can  procure  an 
order  for  Covent  Garden  when  I  choose.  .  .  . 


*  His  old  nurse. 


'rJi 


58 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPIIKLr.. 


[1800. 


Tiivintook  Row,  fntunlajr,  October  II,  1WV». 

My  dear  Father: —  .  .  .  Though  much  iiulisposril  I  wan 
ul)lif;o<l  to  go  yt'rttorduy  to  the  ShakcsiM'un,'  Tiivcni,  where  wa« 
celebrated  the  aiinivei'Mary  of  Mr.  Fox'n  first  t'lcctioii  for  Wewt- 
miiiHter.  I  reported  Fox's  Hpceeh  without  iM'iiig  in  any  way 
the  worse  for  the  effort.  1  now  feci  quite  h(>arty,  and  make  no 
doubt  I  shall  remain  80. 

I  remove  to-night  to  my  lodgings  in  Stanhope  Street.  I  have 
got  thoni  tolerably  well  furnished  at  a  sninll  expense.  My  income 
after  the  meeting  of  Parliament  will  be  so  great  that  I  shall  soon 
be  able  to  stive  a  little  money.  Upon  the  whole  I  am  extnjmely 
well  satisfied  with  my  prosp(!cts.  1  shall  live  genteelly  while  ] 
am  a  student,  and  I  think  1  shall  be  particularly  unfortunate  and 
stupid  if  I  am  not  able  to  turn  to  some  account  the  knowledge 
I  shall  have  gained  in  five  years'  steady  application  amidst  the 
most  favorable  opportunities.  1  am  in  considerable  hopes  that  1 
may  distinguish  myself  the  ensuing  winter  by  my  law  reports. 
This  is  a  department  in  a  news[)a[)er  Avhich  is  very  nuich  attended 
to  in  London,  and  which  is  in  general  but  poorly  executed.  1 
regret  exceedingly  that  I  am  not  atjcpiainted  with  some  respect- 
able lawyer.  I  have  no  one  to  advise  me  where  to  enter,  or  to 
direct  nie  to  the  line  of  study  I  should  pursue. 

rt  Stanhopo  Street,  Claro  Market,  London, 
Saturday,  October  2"),  ISOO.     Half-past  12  o'clock. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  have  this  moment  received  youra  of 
the  17th.  It  finds  mo  in  as  good  health  and  sj)irits  as  it  left  you. 
I  feel  great  remorse  at  having  mentioned  my  illness  to  you,  but 
as  I  said  I  had  quite  recovered,  I  thought  you  would  not  be  at 
all  uneasy.  .  .  . 

Receive  my  warmest  congratulations  u})on  your  reception  at 
Tayniouth.  You  have  certainly  very  great  reason  to  reflect  upon 
it  with  pleasure.  My  Lord's  aflf'ection  for  you  seems  to  have 
revived,  and  I  am  sure  you  could  not  be  so  long  in  the  same 
house  with  him  without  ingratiating  yourself  with  him  very 
much. 


1800.]  I.MlxiINtis    IN   STANHOPE  8TREFT.  69 

I  return  t<'ii  tlioii^^aiul  timnkrt  to  my  HiHtcrM  for  their  kind 
epiHtlcH.  Tiny  anSinJttl  luu  inthiito  gratiHcutioi),  and'  I  Hlmll 
answer  thciii  nil  titi!  inoinvnt  you  rco[)cn  your  corrt'HiMxuUtnrc 
witli  Clmlnicrx. 

I  find  rnysclf  vory  condbrtuldy  Imlgod  in  SlimhoiK!  8trt'«'t. 
I  <K'<'iipy  tlic  s«,'(.'ond  H(M>r  (8c'()tic^,  the  tliird  «tory),  wliich  ronHihts 
of  tlu'(>(>  rooms — 11  parlor,  11  IxkU'cmuu,  and  large  drcsniuji;  (;lotict. 

That  I  may  rtitisfy  your  curioHity  iw  far  iw  lies  in  my  power, 
I  Muhjoin  u  list  of  the  articles  I  have  [uirehased  in  the  way  of 
furniture,  togetlu-r  with  their  prices : 

S     I    d 
7  Maliogany  cliiiiiH,  vi)!.,Hix  coiiiiiiou  iiml  uiiu  ulbuw,        .440 

Tout  beilHtciiil  iiml  I'miiitiiro 2  18    0 

Fiiio  unw  ok'gnnt  8tra\v  mattresB,  IJ  foot  (ioop,  .        ,        ,  1  10    0 

Cotton  ilo 130 

Countorpano 1  10    0 

Tlireo  now  bliinkot« 1  13    0 

A  fuatlior  bolster 10    6 

A  looking  glasa,  .        , 110 

A  jnpantiod  tea  board, 7    0 

Two  bedroom  chairs 6    0 

firaiJH  candloHticks, 6    0 

Crockery  ware 16    0 

Knives  and  forks,  tea  spoons,  snuffers,  coffee  pot,  Ac,        .  10    6 

A  mahogany  table, 2  18    0 

Fire  irons 7    6 

Pantheon  stove 160 

.  A  coal  scuttle 6    0 

A  fender CO 

A  now  carpet 330 

Do.  for  bedstead 5    0 

Bason-stand,  bottlo,  Ac, 8    0 

£25     1     6 

There  are  still  a  goo<l  many  thing.s  that  I  should  be  better  lor, 
particidarly  a  chest  of  drawei-s,  but  my  rooms  already  look  pretty 
decently,  and  I  am  determined  to  buy  nothing  more  for  some 
time  to  come.  The  exact  sum  to  Ik^  paid  on  entering  at  the 
Temple  upon  my  lionor  I  do  not  yet  know,  but  I  am  sure  that 
the  demand  must  be  very  exorbitant  indeed  if  I  am  not  able  to 


Il 


I 


miH 


I  >  sm  Um 


k 


60 


LirK  or  ix>Rn  cAMi>iirj,i.. 


[1800. 


•iiMwvr  it.  I  ycHtonlii)'  n><|ii('Ht(><l  iV-rry  to  lulvaiicc  nu-  twriiry 
guitivuM,  iukI  Ik>  (liii  H4>  with  the  ^rriitcHt  clnrrl'iilticHft.  1  dniw 
only  two  y;uiiii<iiM  till  tli*>  hiiiii  Ih  lii[tii«liit«'(i.  Siuuli(>  WIIhou  [ 
nin  fwv  will  not  N4>ru|>l*>  tu  lt>n<l  iiic  ii  hmiuII  ^uni  if  it  hIiouM  Im> 
iu'<'OH><iu'y,  which  I  I;o|m'  it  will  not. 

I  lun  not  at  all  Horry  at  the  early  nio<'tin^  of  I'ui'lianit'nt, 
though  I  hIwiII  Im>  kept  very  hanl  at  work  for  Honio  nionthri.  I 
iMyin  to  draw  four  y;in'm<aH  a  wi'ck  from  that  date,  and  thtiM'HMion 
will  not  prolNihly  Im>  longer  for  lM>y;innin^  HiM»n.  I  hy  no  nicunH 
(Almighty  (UhI  Ik;  thanked)  rt'jM'nt  of  what  I  have  done.  Th« 
plan  appearHthe  mort'eligihle  the  tnore  I  consider  it,  and  ol>HtacU^ 
vaninh  which  s(H>mc<l  to  imp<>(h>  the  execution  of  it. 

I  pa.-<rt  my  lift;  in  the  mean  time  even  more  agreeaMy,  I  am 
tertuin,  (rtuch  \h  iMrlmiw  my  depmved  tjwto),  than  I  coidtl  have 
done  iiH  a  Hcotn  clergyman  ;  far  Ichm  in  any  Hituation  that  it  is  nr)w 
in  my  power  to  obtain.  I  fliul  my  freedom  to  Drury  Lane 
Theatre  a  very  great  privilege.  What  can  he  more  (h'lightful 
than  after  being  weary  with  jioring  over  HlaekHtoiu;  to  go  free 
of  expense  to  see  Kemble  in  Ilumict,  or  Mrs.  Siildons  in  InalK'Hn? 
It  in  no  \ot*H  improving  than  pleasant,  as  one  han  thim  the  Ik-hI 
opportunity  of  iKToming  acciuainted  with  the  English  drama  and 
of  ac<piiring  (he  proiier  |)roinnieiatioii  of  the  English  language. 
I  expect  to  find  reporting  henceforth  mere  pastime  and  relaxa- 
tion. I  don't  know  whether  yon  saw  Fox's  speech;  it  wiw 
thought  to  bo  very  well  done,  anil  I  got  some  (Tedit  by  it. 

>^  Stnnliopo  Stront,  Clare  Market,  Dflcember  7, 1800, 

My  1)i;au  lijjoTiiKit: —  .  .  .  T  have  been  in  tears  since  I 
began  this  letter,  and  even  now  T  am  so  overwhelmed  as  scarcely 
to  be  able  to  proceed.  It  is  eight  months  since  we  [»arted.  From 
that  monuiit  1  havc^  heard  nothing  of  vow,  and  the  best  that  1 
can  hopi!  is  that  half  the  globe  now  divides  us.  1  tliought  that 
time  would  soothe  my  feelings,  but  it  dailv  renders  them  more 
acute.  The  longer  you  are  absent  1  deplore  your  absence  the 
more,  but  I  must  try  to  conunand  myself.  Everything  has  gone 
well  with  me,  and  my  situation  and  j)rospeet8  are  at  present  all 


IHOO.] 


BMTKRS  Lincoln's  iNif. 


M 


I  (!<)iil(l  winh.  My  fathiT  would  tell  you  in  thr-  lottor  ho  wn>t« 
vnu  ill  Sr|tt(>inlH>r  that  I  {huwihI  th«<  uulutnn  in  H«'t)tlun<l.  I  wum 
thtTf  aiNMit  two  inoiithM,  and  wuh  an  happy  iw  it  iH  iKNwihlu  for 
iii«>  to  Im>  wliih^  you  ari>  at  Niich  a  <li.'<taii(>«>.  I  wriit  down  niul 
<'atii«>  up  l>y  Hca.  I  had  t)w  happiiUHH  to  Hud  th<>  T)<K;tor  woU 
and  ill  *'oiiiroi'tal)li>  t'ircuinstanccs;  our  NinforK  T  fouud  aiiiiahlo 
jiiid  accotiipliMhcd.  I  iiiM'd  not  nicntioii  the  tender  intcrcHt  felt 
liv  all  thi"  fiiiiiily  altoiit  their  hclnvrd  (icorjji',  I'pon  you  the 
(•oI(»r  of  their  life  de|M'iid.M.  After  eonveiNini»  loii^  with  my 
father  I  at  length  took  the  liiial  r(S(»luti(<n  to  try  niy  ehanec  at 
tli(  Kii^^lish  l>ar.  A  nearer  view  of  the  H«otti>«h  elci^y  mid  of 
iSeottisli  iiiaiiiierH  hy  iin  means  temled  to  recfuieile  m«  to  the 
Cliiireh.  iMy  jiresent  plan  1  am  very  seiisihie  is  only  better 
than  that  of  entering  a  fiimily  aw  tutcu"  with  a  view  of  getting  a 
kirk,  hut  than  f/ii'f  I  am  eonvineed  it  is  hetter.  I  liasc  aw  many 
inortilieatioiiH  to  sustain,  greater  lahors  to  In^ar,  and  more  olwt^i- 
clcs  to  surmount.  I  am  eut  oH'  from  all  doiiustii;  happiness,  and 
from  the  society  of  almost  all  with  whom  1  would  wish  to  uaso- 
<'iate ;  hut  there  is  a  possiliility  of  my  Ihmii^;  al»l<!  to  distinguish 
iny>elf  and  to  do  eredit  to  my  family.  If  my  father  did  not 
a|»provc  my  views,  he  at  least  did  not  oppose  tliem,  and  has 
since  (h»no  everything  in  his  power  to  second  them. 

On  the  .'M  of  Novemher  I  entered  at  Lincoln's  Inn.  This  is 
the  most  expensive  society,  but  the  most  respectable,  and  there- 
fore I  prefer  it.  Kiitraiice  money,  X2l  IGw.  lOd.  I  have  not 
hci^un  to  keep  my  terms,  as  previous  to  doing  tliat  I  must 
deposit  XlOO  in  (he  steward's  hands.  This  sum  my  father  has 
iiisisteil  upon  my  receiving  from  him.  From  the  unprecedented 
lii^^h  |>rice  of  grain  he  says  he  will  b(!  able  easily  to  spare  it  hi 
the  spi'iitg,  and  I  shall  tlicrefore  enter  upon  commons  at  Easter. 
Hcfore  I  can  be  called  to  the  bar  my  name  must  have  been  five 
years  upon  tlie  books  of  the  society,  and  I  must  have  kept 
tAvdvc  terms.  I  intended  to  have  taken  a  set  of  chambei's,  and 
to  have  got  up  Mary  Bruce  to  keep  house  for  me,  but  there  wnti 
not  a  set  to  be  luid,  and  I  am  not  very  sorry  that  the  plan  has 
miscarried.  ... 


( 


02 


I.IFK  0>'   l^)ltl>  rAMfllKI.I.. 


[IM(K>. 


I  write  of  riotliiti^  Idit  tnyi>M'lf,  Ixit  I  dure  miiv  tli<>ri>  Im  iio  hiiI)- 

icct  of  wliii-li  vnll  iil'i'  IllDt'c  lUlxiollM  to  licur.       I  ri)|ilillll«>  to  work 

(or  tin' 'Cliroiiirlr.'  I  liiivc  ^^Ufn-nliil  in  my  rrjiortiiiK  mrri'r 
iiiiit'li  iN'tiir  tliiiii  coiiM  liiivc  Imhmi  ('X|Hi>ti>(|  iVoiii  my  iiitiii-<|>it'ioiH 
o(itM4>t.  i  run  now  n>|N)rt  tli«'  «l<'lHiti>H  in  Piirlinnifnt  tin  wi>ll  w 
any  oi'  my  rMnti'm|>oruric'ri,  im<l  dm  k  Iuw  njiortrr  I  Imvt*  iii'(|iiirc«l 
Hom*>  rt'iiiitiition.  I  am  ailowrd  I'onr  );niii<-a>«  a  wr<>k.  Ah  I  wiw 
oltlijTMi  to  JNtrrow  a  <t>iiMi<l«'ritl»lf  sum  iVum  I'trry,  I  liavr  not  yrt 
iM'gnn  to  \\'v\  tlu*  hrnrllt  of  tins  lilH>nil  r^alary,  lint  I  ^liall  mhmi  In> 
in  u  Htntt>  of  afllnrni'i'.  It  will  (imt  mi;  u  ^inhI  dral  t)>  liny  law- 
iHHikM,  lint  tlii"  an<l  cvrry  otiirr  cxprnHi'  I  am  linliN'  to  I  hIiuII  Im> 
amply  alilr  to  lirur.  Altlion^'li  yon  hIioiiM  liavf  it  in  yonr  powiM*, 
1  moHt  earnestly  U'seeeli  yon  never  to  think  ot'  remitting  mo  a 
t'artliin^.  I  slionM  only  pnt  yonr  remittan<es  in  the  I'imkIh,  and 
yonr  .saviny;s  will  he  mneli  inoro  priNlnetive  in  Mental.  I  fear 
I  shall  not  have  ho  tnneli  leisure  an  I  once  expeeti-d.  For  u 
month  past  I  have  Ikhmi  employnl  almost  every  moment  i'rom 
snnrise  until  twelve  o'cloek  at  nijflit.  The  Opposition  Iiavo 
returned  to  Parliament,'''  and  there  has  lieen  an  nnnsnal  portion 
of  husiness  in  tlie  Conrt  «it'  Kinj^'s  Bench.  Almost  the  whole 
Hunnner,  however,  I  shall  have  to  myself,  an<l  even  at  present 
my  lejjal  knowledjj;*^  in  very  inneh  increased  liy  attending;  the 
i'tan'ts  aiul  writinj;  out  the  cjwh.  My  health  is  in  no  dej^ree 
injured  liy  th{>  tatij^nes  I  un<Ier>ro,  and  I  never  was  in  In'tter 
plight  thtni  at  this  moment.  1  had  last  sunniicr  some  symptoms 
which,  from  I>r.  Klemin^^'s  connncntH  upon  them,  alarmed  me 
extremely,  lint  they  left  me  almost  as  soon  as  I  lireathed  my 
native  air.  I  was  tossed  ahout  three;  weeks  upon  the  (ierman 
Ocean,  and  ihoujfh  it  was  tlisajirccalile  at  the  tinn',  I  am  sensible 

I  was  the  licttcr  for  it \t  once  fnim  taste  and  necessity, 

I  contiinie  to  live  a  rcj^nlar,  fruj;al,  and  temperate  life.  I  am 
really  very  much  in  want  of  a  com|)anion  ;  a  friend  I  do  not 
look  for.  1  am  afraid  t«)  make  uj)  to  my  fellow-studcnt.s  lest  1 
should  he  repulsed.     It  sometimes  requires  the  tirm  conviction 


*  Fox  and  lii«  party  had  absontfid  thoinBolves  from  tho  Houro  of  Commong 
bince  1797— Ed. 


iH(K).] 


•ITUATIOM    AM)    IMtOMPIXTII, 


\\U\fU  I  liiivc  tliiit  tiM  otIiiT  tint' of  lifi*  tiiii  Yh»  |»llrf<ii<'<|  hy  imi>, 
III  Ih'iii-  tic  |)n>^i'iil  williMiit  Ik  i'<Mii|ilaiiit,  itml  lo  i'y«<  the  tiitiin* 
williMiit  ^ii'ki'iiin^.  II<>|H>,  ||l)^^t'^•'r,  xuiiiiiiiiM'M  Itrii^liti'iiM  llio 
|ii'i)i*|M-«-t,  mill  I  liHik  forwiinl  to  -iN'iiitiiig  niany  yrui'H  in  tliu 
riiiii|Niii)'  of  my  I»rntli4>r. 

I'oliiicH  art'  t«Mt  wiili-  ii  (Irld  at  pt^-wtit  for  itn!  toi'iitrr  upon. 
'I'Im'  witiialioii  of  till'  niiiutry  tU'Vii-  was  iiion-  alartiiiiip;.  An 
ai'liiitl  raiiiiiii'  I'.xiHtf*.  'I'lirrr  ia  iim  |ii'i»s|H'rl  nf  a  |H'a<-«>  with 
Knitiif,  ami  \v«>  arc  likrly  hihiii  to  Im>  at  war  with  UiiMia, 
l*ni.-*Hia,  and  all  tin-  powi't^  ol'  tin'  North  of  Kiin»jM',  Ir  I 
liail  any  opportiinity,  I  r<hotil(l  Im'  ^la<l  to  m}w\  you  ii  tllo  ol 
iit!WM|ta|M'r>4.  lift  iiu'  know  if  it  is  |M»f<rtiM(>  for  llicin  to  lifl 
ronv»'y«'«l  to  yon;  and  do,  an  yon  valiu'  my  love,  let  m«'  know 
wliiitrvrr  von  wish  that  in  to  Ih>  fonnd  in  London,  and  I  will 
Mild  it  tu  yon  imini'diati'ly.  (SimI  knoux  that  nothing  would 
riiiidiKr  HO  mu(*h  to  mv  own  hM|i|)in(>i>iH  as  tin*  idra  of  having  iu 
iiiiv  di'ifrt'v  I'ondnri'il  to  vonrs.  Adicn!  I  shiill  very  whiii  write 
to  you  aj^ain.     Gml  blitw  you,  ( it'or^o ! 


fl  8Unlio|i«)  .Stii'it,  Cliiro  Markut,  Dtootnlior  31,  IHOO. 

My  DKAii  HitoTiii'.it: —  ...  I  have  ^ot  through  tluM  short 
••ampai^jn.  Parliament  is  to  Ih-  proroj^ncd  to-<lay.  My  j^rnitcst 
feat  wius  writinj;  hIx  folnmns  of  Sheridan.  The  spee«'h  wiw 
pretty  W(!ll  thoujjht  of.  Till  the  meeting  of  the  Imperial  l*ar- 
liainent,  which  is  fixed  for  .Innnary  22,  J  shall  have  nothing;  to 
do  whatever.  JW  that  time  I  expect  to  have  read  throuj^h  once 
the  whole  of  Coke  upon  Littleton.  I  feel  en  iiu'reasinj;  relish 
lor  the  law,  hut  the  impos.-ihiliiy  of  in-iwurin^;  any  practice 
apiK'ars  the  jrreater,  the  more  I  niii  iie(|iiai!ited  with  the  manner 
in  which  bnsiuess  is  condix-ti  d.  i  nm  determined,  however,  to 
make  an  attempt.  I  tind  dilliciilty  in  prociiriii;:;  hiw-hooks,  as 
I  am  not  ac(juainted  with  any  meml)(  r  of  the  profession,  and 
luy  linances  arc  .still  extremely  low.  Both  tlicsc  evils  I  hope  lo 
see  speedily  remedied. 


e  of  Cotnmona 


\ 


64 


LIFE  OF  LOBD  CAMPBELL. 


[1801. 


My 


No.  2  Old  Buildings,  Lincoln's  Inn,  Sunday,  January  26, 1801. 
DEAR  Father  : —  ...  Liiuiy's  and    Mag'w  present 


arrived  sale,  and  I  shall  not  be  nioi'e  happy  when  the  Great 
Seal  is  deliveral  to  nio  by  his  Majesty.  I  look  upon  this  as  a 
favorable  omen.  Were  it  not  a  presage  of  my  future  fortune, 
how  in  the  world  should  they  have  thought  of  a  seal  ?  Well, 
wlicther  I  shall  get  that  or  not,  this  I  shall  never  part  with  to 
the  latest  hour  of  my  life.  A\'hen  I  look  upon  it,  the  image  of 
my  amiable  and  affectionate  little  sisters  will  beam  upon  my 
imagination,  my  heart  will  be  dilated  with  pride,  and  the  tear 
of  fraternal  love  will  start  into  my  eyes. 

I  do  not  know  whether  you  have  observed  whence  my  letter 
is  dated.  I  am  now  sitting  in  No.  2  Old  Buildings,  Lincoln's 
Inn.  I  found  it  for  many  reasons  quite  necessary  to  remove 
from  Stanhope  Street,  and  there  was  fortunately  a  set  of  cham- 
bers to  let  here  exactly  to  suit  me.  I  could  live  nowhere  so 
respectably,  and  all  things  considered  perhaps  nowhere  so 
economically.  The  rent  of  the  chambers  is  twenty-two  pounds 
per  annum ;  they  are  the  cheapest  in  the  Inn — of  course  not  the 
best.  HoAvever,  they  are  tolerably  neat,  commodious,  and  com- 
ibrtable.  Almost  all  my  neighbors  are  people  of  large  income 
— Ilonorables,  Right  Honorables,  &c.  A  card  with  Lincoln's 
Inn  upon  it  is  as  genteel  for  a  young  man  as  Grosveuor  Squai'e. 
From  not  understanding  the  law  with  regard  to  leases,  I  was 
put  to  a  good  deal  of  trouble  and  some  expense  before  I  could 
get  away  from  Stanhope  Street.  Here  I  am,  however,  not 
oAviug  any  man  a  farthing,  with  a  clean  shirt  on  my  back  and  a 
guinea  in  my  pocket.  The  value  of  money  has  been  so  aston- 
ishingly depreciated  of  late  years,  that,  believe  me,  your  ideas 
of  a  TiOudon  Hie  are  extremely  erroneous.  Food,  clothes  and 
lodgings  have  been  doubled  in  price,  and  these  are  by  no  means 
the  only  considerable  sources  of  expense. 

I  have  scarcely  done  anything  for  the  paper  since  my  last, 
except  now  and  then  to  write  a  dramatic  critique.  For  months 
to  come,  however,  I  shall  hardly  have  a  moment  to  breathe.  It 
is  expected  that  we  shall  have  a  very  stormy  Session     If  not  on 


1801.] 


RETIREMENT  OF   MR.  PITT. 


66 


Tuesday,  Fox  hoa  determined  to  attend  soon  in  his  place,  and  we 
shall  have  furious  debating  night  after  night.  The  Court  of 
King's  Bench  likewise  met  on  Friday,  and  I  am  obliged  to  be 
there  every  morning  by  nine  o'clock.  I  am  not  however  in  any 
degree  appalled.  My  health,  thank  God,  is  excellent ;  and  my 
vigor,  I  hope,  sufficient  to  enable  me  to  get  through  with  ease. 
On  Saturday  se'nnight  T  made  my  long  projected  round  of  calls. 
I  have  acquired  amazing  assurance  of  late,  and  can  appear  in  the 
presence  of  a  great  man,  or  great  woman  even,  without  being  at 
all  abashed.  This  change  proceeds,  I  suppose,  from  having  now 
*  a  local  habitation  and  a  name.' 

No.  2  Old  Buildings,  Lincoln's  Inn,  February  17, 1801. 

Dear  Georoe  : —  ...  You  will  see  by  the  public  prints 
that  Billy  Pitt  is  no  longer,  or  in  a  day  or  two  will  be  no  longer, 
in  office.*  The  new  Administration,  at  the  head  of  which  is 
Mr.  Addington,  late  Speaker,  is  extremely  unpopular,  and 
probably  will  not  stand  many  weeks.  The  rupture  took  place 
with  regard  to  the  emancipation  of  the  Catholics.  Pitt  was  for 
it;  the  King  was  not.  The  Premier  retires  with  Lords  Grenville, 
Spencer  and  Camden,  Mr.  Windham,  Mr.  Dundas,  &c.  The 
sufferings  of  the  country  were  never  at  any  time  so  great,  and  the 
prospect  of  })cace  was  never  at  any  time  more  distant.  The  King 
beyond  all  doubt  risks  his  crown  by  his  obstinacy. 

I  have  been  tiying  to  get  acquainted  with  someone  going  to 
Bengal  in  this  fleet,  but  have  not  succeeded.  It  would  be  a  con- 
solation to  me  to  see  anyone  who  is  soon  to  see  you,  to  send  by 
him  a  memorial  which  he  would  deliver  with  his  own  hands. 
But  who  can  tell  how  far  you  may  be  from  Calcutta  ?  You  are 
perhaps  among  the  mountains  of  Thibet.  I  often  dream  that  I 
pant  togetlior  with  yon  beneath  the  sun's  scorching  ray?,  or  see 
you  attacked  by  a  poisonous  scrpont.  God  avert  every  evil 
omen  and  preserve  you  from  every  danger !  I  continue  to  jog 
on  as  usual.     The  parliamentary  proceedings  have  not  been  so 


\ 


*  Mr.  Pitt  did  not  formally  resign  till  March  14,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Addington. — Ed. 

VOL  I.  3* 


J 


^1 


# 


06 


1,1  KK  or   LOUD  UAMPBKLL. 


[1801. 


intemstliip;  t'ov  iiuuiy  years,  and  I  have  a  gocnl  deal  to  do.     My 
health,  however,  continues  good  and  my  spirits  improve.    Adieu. 

No.  2  Old  BuiUiinH;*,  Lirn-olii's  Inn, 
Thnisday,  I'ol.nmry  1!),  IHOl. 

My  dear  Father: —  .  .  .  From  the  projected  chanji;es  in 
administration,  there  has  not  been  a  very  }>'reat  deal  to  do,  as  most 
of  the  debates  have  been  adjourned.  T  ha<l  last  ni}>ht,  however, 
to  tiike  a  considerable  part  of  ^Ir,  Pitt's  bu(l;i,ct  speech,  and  wo 
expect  to-night  a  long  debate  on  tJie  expedition  to  Ferrol.*  My 
business  becomes  daily  more  viiay  to  me.  I  have  not  yet  seriously 
begun  the  study  of  the  law,  but  certainly  shall  at  the  rising  of 
the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  which  will  take  place  in  ten  days  or 
a  fortnight. 

No.  2  OM  BiuMin'.^.s,  Lim-nln's  Inn,  MmivIi  !),  IKOl, 

My  dear  George  : —  ...  Your  not(^  of  .July  "2(5  luis  at 
length  come  to  hand.  Our  father's  ItJtter  is  dated  March  o ;  he 
had  that  moment  received  it.  Your  letter  which  you  wrote  about 
three  weeks  before  has  miscarried.  My  dear  brother,  I  am  now 
almost  a.s  incapable  to  write  tc  you  as  I  was  before.  My  whole 
frame  trend)les.  I  \  ould  ilclay  writing  till  to-morrow  and  begin 
afresh,  but  I  am  again  strictly  charged  not  to  lose  a  moment. 

Y^ou  may  be  perfectly  sati.sllcil  when  you  think  of  poor  .lack. 
Xo  one  «'an  be  better  contented  willi  his  situation  and  prospects. 
I  shall  still  however  be  extremisly  anxious  tdl  I  hear  of  your 
safe  arrival.     Gracious  God !  what  w       he  fate  of  the  Kent.f 


"Tliu  unsuccoseful  expedition  to  Fenol  (Sjniin;  liad  laken  \A.u:c  in  Augu.st, 
1800,  nndcr  the  command  of  Sir  James  Pulteney  TIip  anticipalnd  debate 
■  nmo  ofT  nn  the  motion  of  Mr.  Stuit  (Fobruary  U>,  1801).  Si,-  ,r_  Pulteney 
defended  himt-olf  in  a  long  speech,  and  aflor  a  debate  in  which  Dimdan,  Pitt, 
Grey,  Home  Tooko  and  General  ftascoyno  took  jiart  tlie  motion  wa^  d^f^ated 
by  149  to  75. — Ed. 

fOn  Til  -day,  March  3,  1801,  tint  new.^  came  of  tli.i  capture  of  tiie  East 
India  Company'ff  sliip  Kent  by  thi-  Cmfiance,  French  privateer,  off  the  Sand 
Heads  in  tlie  Bay  of  Bengal.  The  captain  and  twelve  others  were  killf-d  and 
forty-two  wounded  in  the  defence  of  the  ship,  wiiich  wa.''  lucj^t  gallant,  lasting 
nearly  two  hours  against  a  very  superior  force. — En. 


1801.] 


REPORTS  DUDATEM  IN  PARLIAMENT. 


11  August, 

ftd  debate 

Pultoney 

idns,  Pitt. 

■<  (l"l>ate<l 

(he  East 

till'  Sand 

<ilUd  and 

n',  lasting 

When  you  are  fairly  settled  I  put  {freut  fiiith  in  your  roffularity 
ami  teini)cmiU!o  for  your  safety.  When  I  express  my  fears  to 
East  Indians,  their  constant  question  is,  *  Is  your  brother  temper- 
ate? Then  there  is  no  fear  for  him.'  l\)r  (jiod's  suite,  ever  l<ecp 
in  niiml  how  preeions  your  life  is.  By  your  lov«!  for  your  father, 
for  your  sisters,  and  for  myself,  i  (joiijure  you  to  siW'rifi(;e  every- 
thing to  a  regiird  for  health.  (j!(»d  ev{!!'  ntiteh  over  you  and 
restore  you  in  due  time  to  your  country  iip.(i  your  friends. 

J.  C. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  Marcli  ilS,  1801. 
My  dear  Father: —  ...  I  must  learn  to  Mj)eak  French 
before  I  visit  you  again,  or  I  shall  be  unal)l(;  to  bear  a  part  in  the 
family  convei-sations.  I  yesterday  sat  for  some  time  in  the  galleiy 
■>f  the  House  of  Conunons  by  the  side  of  tlie  <;elebratcd  M. 
Tallien,  who  wiw  taken  on  liis  return  froin  Egypt.  1  hope  you 
have  received  the  '  Morning  CJn'onicUf '  which  I  sent  you  on 
'i^hursday.  (Jrey's  speech  was  by  me,  but  it  was  a  j)Oor  one,  and 
there  was  no  scope  for  a  display  of  my  importing  powers.  By  a 
miracle  only  I  lately  escaped  causing  Perry  to  be  called  to  the 
bar  of  the  House  of  Jjords.  I  shidl  tell  you  how  in  my  next. 
What  think  you  of  the  minority  ?  There  wert;  besides  near  thirty 
members  who  voted  against  the  address  the  first  day  of  the  session 
not  present  at  the  division.  There  has  not  been  such  ti  minority 
since  the  year  1790,  and  1  have  little  doubt,  it,  will  iniTcase  upon 
every  divisioii.  There  i.<  no  d()ul)t  that  the  eyes  of  the  people 
are  turned  towards  Fox.  For  public  and  for  private  reasons  I 
frankly  confess  1  should  be  glad  to  see  him  in  })ower.  Never 
was  a  nation  so  insulted  as  the  Jiritish  nation  in  being  subjected 
to  the  sway  of  Mr.  Addington,  a  man  without  birth,  witliout 
connections,  and  without  abilities.  i  he  King  might  as  well 
make  a  Prime  Minister  of  one  of  liis  beef-eatei. .  The  Duke  oi' 
^Fontrose,  it  is  generally  Ixilievcid,  succeeds  Mr.  Diiiulas  as 
Minister  for  8cotIan<l.  Overtures  of  peaci^  are  certainly  to  be 
tntule  to  Bonaparte  inmiediately.  "^fhe  Iviiig  has  never  yet 
appeared  in  j)ubHc,  and  considerable  doubts  iire  entertained  by 
many  peoph;  as  to  the  state  of  his  liealth. 


'•fiji^  .ill 

t  ,      t! 


i 


ll         <1 


l| 


68 


XIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPfi£LL. 


[1801. 


Lincoln'!  Inn,  April  14, 1801. 

My  dear  Fatiikh: —  ...  1  hope  the  ruptnts  arc  not  true 
which  lire  circulated  licrc  with  rcj>artl  to  th(!  Htiitc  of  your  j)art 
of  the  country.  The  weavers  are  all  suid  to  be  wtarving  aud 
ready  for  deeds  of  di'S|)eratioii.  Certainly  since  this  island  was 
first  inhabited  it  never  exhibited  such  scenes  (»f  wretchedness. 
Every  man  who  has  the  lea^t  dcffree  of  syinj)athy  (»r  a  spark  of 
patriotism  must  at  tlie  present  niunient  be  dejected.  Muvisters 
arc,  or  j)retei  .  to  be,  exceedinji'ly  alarmed  at  tlie  insurrectional 
spirit  which  luis  shown  itself  in  dillerent  parts  of  the  country. 
Tlie  Green  Bag  Committee  made  their  report  last  night,  and  we 
are  this  evening  to  have  a  long  debate  upon  the  susi)ension  of  the 
Habeas  Cor|)US  Act.  If  it  is  interesting  I  shall  to-morrow  send 
you  a  '  Chronicle.'  I  must  again  emerge  into  active  life.  For 
several  ths  to  come  I  shall  have  to  fag  very  hard.     The 

sessions  at  the  Old  Bailey  begin  to-morrow,  and  term  will  begin 
before  they  are  over.  1  do  not  believe  that  a  week  will  pass 
away  without  four  or  five  licjiv}  debates.  Parties  have  not  been 
so  e(jually  balanced  for  these  many  years,  and  the  Opposition  ai"0 
invigorat(!d  in  their  efforts  by  a  near  prospect  of  power.  They 
have  gained  a  great  accession  to  their  numbers  within  doors,  but 
a  still  greater  without.  It  is  no  longer  a  disreputable  thing  to  be 
a  Foxite,  What  should  you  say  if  in  a  short  time  you  should 
see  ours  become  the  o/7tc/a^jo(«/'ua//  Who  would  then  call  us 
the  advocates  of  atheism  and  rebellion?  Whatever  my  uncle 
may  think,  I  can  assure  you  that  there  is  no  other  print  in  London 
so  nmcli  respected,  or  that  I  would  rather  be  connected  with. 

I  am  quite  sensible  of  the  impossibility  under  which  I  labor 
of  concealing  my  avocations.  If  the  whole  of  my  situariou  were 
fully  known  1  should  not  at  all  regret  this,  as  I  liavc  the  proud 
consciousness  of  having  done  nothing  of  which  1  ought  to  be 
ashamed.  I  mean  to  dine  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Hall  on  Wednesday 
next.  I  shall  auTy  your  bill  for  acceptance,  and  if  the  steward 
refuses  to  take  it,  I  shall  then  be  able  to  negotiate  it  with  the 
greatest  ease.  I  have  again  met  with  a  cruel  (lisa|)i)ointment  in 
my  lit(!rary  puivuit'^.    About  a  lortnight  ago  I  read  an  advertise- 


1801.] 


ADMINI8TUATION   OF   Mlt.    ADDINGTON. 


m 


iii(!iit  In  a  Frencli  pjipor  announcinfij  a  posthumouH  work  of 
Murinontcl,  vi/.,  four  additionul  volumes  of  *  Moral  Tales.'  I 
iiumodiately  iniido  Perry  write  to  the  Mayor  of  Dover  to  get 
them  from  Parin,  William  Spaukic  and  I  were  to  translate  them, 
and  we  were  promised  jGIOO  for  our  trouble.  I  nee<l  not  say  I 
was  very  much  elevated  with  the  prospect  of  receiving  so  large 
a  sum  of  money  lor  doing  so  little.  Yesterday  the  books  arrived, 
when  lo!  it  appeared  that  all  the  tales  except  three  had  been 
translated  into  lOnglish  seven  years  ago.  Till  I  hav(^  th(!  cash  in 
my  ])ocket  I  shall  nev(!r  henceforth  build  u[>on  the  profits  of  any 
literary  project.  I  believe  I  must  be  ('ontented  with  my  salary. 
That  infamous  tax  upon  paper  is  most  ruinous  to  us  gentlemen 
of  the  (juill.  I  hav(!  been  very  uneasy  for  some  time  back  about 
my  income  tax.  I  returned  as  large  a  sum  (£1-56)  as  I  have  to 
spend  ;  but  I  have  been  in  momentary  terror  of  being  suirunoned 
before  the  commissioners.  Rather  than  submit  to  an  examination 
before  them  I  would  willingly  give  one-half  of  my  income  instead 
of  a  tenth  j)art  of  it.  It  is  now  above  a  fortnight  since  I  sent  in 
my  schedule,  and  my  fears  begin  to  abate  It  is  [)robal)le  that  in 
the  present  session  of  Parliament  some  very  heavy  im])ost  will 
be  laid  upon  the  peoples.  ITnder  the  present  Chancellor  of  the 
Exche(iuer  th(>  revenue  will  be  much  less  })rtHluctive.*  His  first 
act  was  the  sale  of  the  lottery,  and  the  contractors  cheated  him 
cut  of  £140,0(!t'.  Tickets  next  day  sold  at  a  premiiun  of  two 
guineas.  I  really  did  not  imagine  that  the  spirit  of  the  English 
nation  was  so  coiiii)letcly  sunk  that  they  woidd  have  i)eaceably 
submitted  to  such  a  driveller.  The  general  opinion  now  is  that 
the  chang(!  in  the  Cabinet  was  actually  ixjiu/f/le,  and  that  the  new 
Ministers  were  nominated  by  the  old.  There  was  a  division  about 
the  Catholics,  but  that  was  ])rought  about  on  ])nrpose  to  duj)e  the 
King.  The  reports  continue  extremely  contradict  ory  with  regard 
to  the  state  of  his  Majesty's  health.  It  is  allowed  on  all  hands 
that  his  body  is  very  weak ;  but  some  tell  you  lu;  has  in  a  great 
measm'c  lost  his  mental  faeulti<  s  too,  while  others  affirm  that  he 

^Hoiry  Addington  was  both  Prime  Minister  and  Chancellor  of  the  Ex- 
chequer.— Ed. 


70 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBELIi. 


[1801. 


IB  in  complete  poascsHiou  of  thciu.  It  iH  very  gfiicrully  crcnlitcd 
that  there  is  water  on  hi>4  (^hest,  and  thsit  his  constittitian  htiH 
received  a  8h(x:k  which  it  cjiii  never  recover.  Those  who  wish 
well  to  him  and  to  hi.s  dominions  nuist  wish  that  his  disorder 
would  take  a  dcci<led  turn.  He  is  very  generally  pitiinl,  and 
<leservedly,  for  he  is  most  certainly  a  worthy  man.  .  .  . 

P.S.  You  must  have  heard  Ixifore  yon  receive  this  of  the  <le«th 
of  Paul.*  The  joy  in  London  is  great  and  universal.  I  should 
not  be  surprised  if  th(>r(>  should  this  night  be  a  general  illumina- 
tion. It  is  reported  confidently  that  Copenhagen  is  in  ashes,  f 
who  can  tell  what  turn  things  may  yet  take?  Perhaps  Henry 
Addington  will  enmlate  Chathani  and  Marlborough  ? 

Lincoln's  Inn,  Wednoaday  night, 

half-past  11  o'clock,  April  22,  1801. 

My  deau  Father  : — I  was  this  afternoon  fortunate  enough 
to  get  a  frank  for  to-morrow,  so  that  I  shall  have  the  pleasure 
of  a  few  minutes'  convei*sation  with  you  before  I  go  to  bed. 
The  box  which  you  dispatche<l  on  March  .'ilst  has  reached  me 
safely.  The  eggs  are  truly  excellent.  Did  the  hen  drop  them 
into  the  saucepan  they  could  not  be  fresher;  the  white  is  like  a 
bit  of  fine  curd.  I  need  not  say  I  feel  highly  indebted  to  you 
for  this  additional  proof  of  your  attention  iind  kindness.  I 
most  earnestly  wish  I  knew  sr)mething  I  could  send  down  in 
the  box  whiiih  might  be  of  use  to  you  or  my  sisters. 

I  this  day  dined  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Hall.  After  the  bill  was 
accepted  the  steward  did  not  he>iitate  to  tjd<e  it,  though  it  had 
ten  or  eleven  days  to  run,  I  have  a  receipt  for  (he  sum  by 
showing  which  I  can  get  it  back  when  I  plesise.  I  should  be 
glad  to  send  you  this,  but  I  know  you  would  not  be  well  pleased 
if  I  were  to  do  so.  There  is  not  much  danger  of  my  abusirg 
your  confidence. 

Our  victoiy  at  Copenhagen  and  the  deiith  of  Paul  for  some 
days  completely  intoxicated  the  public  mind.     People  in  very 


*  The  Czar  Paul  was  'found  dead  in  hia  bed,'  March  22, 1801.— Ed. 
f  Neldon's  victory  at  Copenhagen  took  place  on  April  2, 1801.— Ed. 


1801. J 


DKAIII    OF    auk::    ItOMHY 


71 


low  spirits  art'  siiitl  to  o^i  mmhi  druiik  ;  it  woiiM  uppoiir  that  they 
likcwisf  f*<M>ii  recover  thoir  hcuhcm.  The  cqiiivm'al  coiuluct  of 
Alexander,  the  armiHtiee  with  the  Daiiea,  and  the  horrible  reportH 
wliich  prevailed  to-day  with  rej^ard  to  our  army  in  Egypt  have 
diwolved  the  charnj,  and  the  j^loom  hanging  ovia*  our  afiairs 
HeeiiiH  as  great  an  ever.  It  is  eonfidently  asnerted  that  Bonaparte 
insistH  upon  Kgypt  iw  a  Hine  qud  iwu,  and  that,  as  we  resolutely 
refuse  to  grant  it,  the  negotiations  in«ist  breaU  otf.  Mr.  Addiog- 
ton  aiHpiired  as  nuich  poptilaritv  l>y  the  death  of  Paul  and  the 
defeat  of  the  Danes,  as  if  he  had  actually  had  any  share  in  the 
two  event.s.  lie  has  no  hold  on  the  public  mind,  however,  and 
a  breath  nuiy  destroy  him.  The  intimacy  between  liim  and  Pitt 
continues  as  great  as  ever,  and  no  doubt  of  his  puppdinm  any 
longer  n'lnains.  Those  who  wish  a  favor  nev(r  think  of 
applying  to  him.  By  to-morrow  I  shall  probably  l)e  able  to 
inform  you  of  the  fate  of  Sir  R.  Abcrcromby.* 


Lincoln's  Inn,  May  2, 1801. 

Mv  DKAU  FATiiKii : — You  tell  me  you  are  growing  oid,  and 
in  the  same  breath  tell  me  you  walked  on  foot  from  Kingliorn 
to  Cupar !  f  May  such  a  position  always  be  followed  up  with 
such  |iroofs !  It  was  certainly  too  long  a  walk.  I  told  you 
that  1  had  got  the  box  with  the  eggs  about  the  middle  of  last 
month.  1  still  contimie  to  feast  upon  them  daily,  and  relish 
them  juore  and  more.  T  am  vexed  to  think  you  imagine  I  am 
making  much  progress  in  my  legal  pursuits.  Had  I  exerted 
myself  to  the  utmost,  my  improvement  would  have  been  small, 
and  I  have  to  reproach  myself  with  negligence,  indolence,  and 
cowardice.  I  am  continually  at  variance  with  myself,  and  if 
I  n-covcr  my  self-esteem  foi-  a  little  by  laying  down  good  re.so- 
hition.s,  it  is  only  to  detest  myself  more  heartily  when  the  next 
day  is  gone  unim))rove(l  like  that  which  preceded  it. 

In  the  Court  of  King's  Bench  there  is  a  box  set  apart  for  the 


*Sii'  Ralph  Abercromby  wa«  mortally  woumloil  at  the  battle  of  Alexandria^ 
March  21.  1801,  and  died  seven  days  altiTwardK  — F.r>. 
tTwoiiiy  miles  and  a  half. — Ed. 


■^f:'. 


M. 


7t 


MFK  OF  LORD  CAMPnRrj, 


[1801. 


studcntH.     Ilcri;  I  iilwiiyH  sit,  aiui  kIiuii  upon  nil  tH-ciiMioiiM  tho 

iffnohite  {htim.     WtTt;  it  not  for  my  writing  in  the  pillciy  in  th<! 

Houw!  of  ComnionH,  my  connt'ction  with  ncwspaitcrs  I  dare  say 

would  never  Ih>  known  ;  but  studentn  and  bari'iMtcrH  tlork  liitlier 

in  M«'<»n'M,  and  an  attempt  at  seerecy  must  only  render  det<'<'tion 

the  more  disjrraeet'id.      I    have  dined   i,i   the  hall  six  or  seven 

times.     We  are  allowe<l  two  dishes — fish  and  nnilton,  land)  and 

pijjeon-pie,  veal  and  puddinj;,  tV:e.,  ixit   no  cheese  and  seareely 

any  vejjfetahles.    You  may  have  hoth,  hut  they  eharp'vou  tor  them 

most  ini(|uitously.    Hesith's  the  inter<'st  of  my  money,  I  nuist  pay,  I 

uiuh-rstand,  24m,  a  term.      For  that   I  may  dine  fourteen  times; 

1".  i'xl.  a  day  if  oftener.      Few  ^o  ahove  tive  times,  hut   I  shall 

atteiul  very  rejjjularly.     The  hour  for  dinner  is  tour.     There  arc 

j^enerally  alxait  fifty  of  us.     As  Manslii'ld,  Thurlow,   lioujjh- 

lM»rou>;h  (Hosslyn),  Khhtn,  tte.,  were  of  this  inn,  it  is  now  all 

the  fashion.     Any  tiews  that    I  eould  jjive  you   must  V)C  very 

stale  hefore  this  reaches  you.      F^jvpt  is  universally  helievi-il  to 

be  ours.     The  jfhtry  of  the  con(|uest  and  the  valtu^  of  the  aecjuisi- 

tiou  no  lanpiuajre  can  (h'scribe.     Hanover  is  (leded  to  the  King 

of   Prussia.      What    his    Majesty  will    thirds  of   this  when   he 

recovei's,  it  is  quite  impossible  to  say.      You  know  well  enough, 

I  sui»{)(tse,  in  yctur  part  of  the  world  that  he  is  as  bad  as  ever. 

That  day  that  he  rule  over  Westminster   Uridge  he  absolutely 

hail   esca{)ed    from   his  kee})ers.     Ministers  are  anxious  to  rid 

themselves  of  that  miisance,  the  Parlianu'ut,  and  it  will  [jrobably 

be  prorogued  soon  after  the  birthday.     The  sooner  the  better  for 

me.     Mr.  Addiiigton  becomes  n)ore  popular,  and  if  his  Majesty's 

health  is  re-established,  he  may  keep  his  place  for  a  few  months. 

Th(!  Prince  has  pledged   liiiiisclf  to  the  party  of  Fox,  Moira, 

Fitzwilliani,  IJedlbrd,    Norfolk,   Devonshire,  Xorthundjcriand 

&c.,  the  Jacobins ! 

Lincoln's  Inn,  Monday,  May  2r>,  1801. 

My  pear  Fatiikr  : — 1  have  this  moment  rectaved  yours  of 
the  10th,  atid  I  sit  down  to  write  you  a  few  lines  lest,  on  any 
account,  my  silence  should  render  you  uneasy.  My  astonish- 
ment at  your  silence  is  now  at  an  end,  when   I  learn  that  you 


1H.;:.J 


IMIOI'OSKD    IS    A    I)KHATIN«»   01,110. 


7;j 


hu(l  not  lictiril  fVoiii  inu  huuv.  tiu;  2>)(1  of  liint  month.  On  Snn- 
doy,  JIk!  .'{(I  of  May,  Tlionuw  ('iim|ilM>ll,  author  of  the  *  IMcamireu 
of  Hope,'  &v.,  Haihtl  for  Kdinhiir^rh,  and  I  cntrustcil  liitn  with 
a  packi't  for  my  Hintors  at  MisH  Gordou'w,  in  whirh  was  ••ncloMcd 
tt  lonj^  letter  for  you.  ThiH  Mr.  <'am|>lM'll  faithfully  i»r(»!uised 
to  deliver  with  his  own  hand  int<»  .JaneV.  As  the  wind  was 
fair,  I  had  no  doubt  that  she  wouhl  have  received  it  on  Wednes- 
day or  Thursihiy,  and  that  I{o|^er  the  carrier  woidd  have 
brought  the  letter  ad(b'essed  to  you  in  the  end  of  the  wj'ck.  I 
urn  a  pKMl  deal  vexed,  lirst,  because  the  j^irls  nuist  have  thought 
me  very  unkind  ;  and  in  the  next  place,  because  I  ha<l  sent  theju 
by  ihis  conv«'yance  a  (ive-poiuid  not«'  to  help  to  keep  their 
pockets,  which  I  am  now  nuich  afrai<!  will  never  reach  them. 
It  jfives  me  great  pleasure  to  learn  that  you  are  nil  well  and 
hearty.  1  continue  »w  usual  to  pull  the  oar.  I  have  not  been 
of  late  in  a  suitable  frame  (»f  mind  for  hard  stu<ly,  but  read 
occasionally  a  paj^e  oi*  two  of  my  ("okc-Littietori.  It  is  expected 
tliat  I'arliamcnt  will  Im;  proro^rued  early  in  June,  so  that  [  shall 
now  hav<'  as  nmch  l(>isure  as  I  could  possibly  desire. 

You  will  learn  with  pleasure  that  I  am  this  nij^ht  t(t  be  pro- 
posed as  a  member  of  a  debating!;  club  called  the  I {ouse  of  Com- 
mons. I  shall  bo  ballot<'d  for  this  day  se'nnijilit,  and  as  f  am 
not  known  to  any  of  the  members  except  one,  I  think  F  have  a 
tolerai)le  chance  to  escape  blackballin^jT-  If  I  am  admitted  I 
shall  Ix!  (!xtremely  happy.  It  is  a  very  respectable  society,  none 
but  lawyers  or  studtsnts  beinj;^  admitted.  The  only  subject  dis- 
cussed is  i)olitics.  I  shall  thus  have  a  complete  opportunity  of 
iiiakin«:;  trial  of  my  powers,  and,  if  I  have  any,  of  makinj^ 
niyscK'  a  little  known.  You  will  caution  me  no  doubt  against 
espousing  th'  cause  of  <  )ppo,siti<)n  ;  but  I  have  already  deter- 
mined to  be  the  firm  suj>j)orte!'  of  arbitmry  ]M)wer  and  passive 
obedience!  Patriots  in  the  present  day  cut  a  mighty  fofilish 
figuro ! 

On  Saturday,  or  more  properly  Sunday  morning  last,  I  was 
at  a  grand  concert  given  l)y  I'crrv  upon  the  occasion  of  the 
christening  of  htr  heir.     Siu-li  a  nunilwr  of  ciipital  performers 

vor..  I.  4 


74 


MKK  (tK    U)l(l>  OAMl'IIKI.L. 


[1801. 


iirvci'  \\i\i*  Ixliirr  follcctnl  in  Ltitiiloii  in  any  privuti*  lioiirttt. 
Till'  [irinripiil  iniiHintI  |h'<i|»|c,  JMttli  male  luxl  I't'inuU',  iVoni 
Covont  (iiirdtn,  l)i-iii-y  \aii\v,  aiul  the  ()|h>i'u,  wvrv  piHtnciit, 
In'HiiUf*  (livi'i-H  pi'ivato  |M'i  >nun  (•••Ifhrnti-d  for  their  lah'nts  in  thin 
iM'ii  /KM'.  Af'ti'r  Iwiti^  fi'iwtcd  with  moIoh,  (hit'ttoM,  frion,  (|iiarti'tl<v-t, 
&('.,  for  nil  hour  or  two,  th(<  (•otnpaiiy  sat  (lowii  to  a  uwA  coHtly 
and  t'H'gaiit  Miippcr.  After  HJippcr  tl»e  coiiciTt  wan  riiuwcd,  ami 
oontiiiiUHl  till  I'ho'liiiM  U'caini!  ono  of  the  Hp(!cta^>r.>i.  Tom 
KrMkiiic  nnd  liin  family,  Mr,  Thomas  Hli<'ri<lan,  and  il;vTrH  othi'i' 
fa^hionahhs,  were  of  the  party.  I  neV'  npent  u  inore  tedioiw 
evening. 

Lincoln'*  Inn,  AuKUrtt  I,  IHOI. 

My  l>KAll  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  John  (rray  \n  f«;oinj;  to  intrtnliM^t' 
mo  to  Dr.  Gartshorne  and  Sir  Joseph  Hiuikrt,  that  I  may  he 
admitted  to  their  roni'ci'MdtlotiM.  I  reeolleet  the  time  when  I 
wouhl  have  ;;iven  a  ^reat  deal  to  mix  in  rtueh  society,  hut  my 
eajjernesM  to  siv  and  hear  j>reat  men  hiL«*  ery  mueh  al)ated. 
However,  I  shall  fft  oiu-e  or  twiee.  I  have  had  the  whole  of 
my  time  at  my  own  disposal  for  a  fortnijjht.  Thoujrh  I  have 
by  no  tneans  done  as  niiieli  as  I  eould  wish,  I  have  <loiu!  num- 
than  I  eould  undertake  to  do  were  I  alio\>(Hl  to  live  it  over 
apiin.  Before  tlu;  season  is  over,  I  sliiill  certainly  spend  a  fort- 
night at  a  waterinji;  plaee. 

There  is  at  present  in>thinj;'  talketl  of  Ijut  inva^loti.  The 
preparations  on  the  French  coast  arc  truly  formidable,  l>ut  I 
have  no  idea  that  Bonaparte  will  make  the  alt«'m|)l.  The 
<'ountry  shows  a  becoming  spirit,  and  I  make  no  doubt  that 
'Gallic  strangera  will  meet  a  British  welcome.'  I  hav(  serious 
th«Mights  of  joining  a  volunteer  corjts.  At  a  crisis  such  as  this 
the  State  has  a  right  to  cull  upon  everi'  citizen  to  take  arms. 
Though  I  have  no  great  stomach  for  fighting,  I  should  certainly, 
if  the  French  were  to  attempt  an  inva-sion,  take  the  field  with 
the  greatest  cheerfulness.  I  detest  the  trade  of  a  soldier,  hut  I 
honor  a  display  of  courage  when  one's  eoimtry  is  really  in  dan- 
ger.    It  is  lamentable  that  we  should  have  such  u  driveller  at 


IHOI.J 


KXI'KNMK  OK    VVAII   WITH    KltANl'K^ 


n 


tho  liciul  ot' attiiii'H ;  Imt  \\t<  Imvi*  tlibt  riii)iH)tiition — and  it  <*(>r- 
tuiiily  \n  11  i-DiHoliitiiiii — that  Mr.  I'itt  diruftM  the  \otma\  tut  iiiiioh 
UM  wlu>ii  he  hfitt  th>>  hohii  in  hiit  hund.  .  .  . 

No.  2  0l'l  Biiil'lin)(<i,  LinonlnV  Inn,  Augaiit  14,  1^1. 

My  ur.\n  Ihunuv.H: —  .  .  Ah  to  puhllc  nmttcri*  I  have 
nothiii;;  t'iii'th<-i-  to  huv  than  that  evt>r}'thin^  ^(M'h  on  rxtremely 
wi.'ll.  One  of  thi<  iiioHt  hi'illiaiit  |H'i'i<i<lH  of  our  hJMtory  hiix 
t>la|>.s«'(l  Htncc  Mr.  Addin^tnn  ciinu'  into  |H/\vvr.  I  low  nuirh 
(Jiaiife  iH  thcif  in  tho  atlhirs  of  men !  Wo  dictaicd  a  peace  to 
Dciiiiiark  and  the  northern  powern;  nf'tor  n  nioMt  hrilliant  cam- 
|)ai^n  we  eonMJdei'  K^ypt  um  our  own,  and  the  French  who 
threatened  to  invaih*  ns  are  i<ept  in  a  Htate  oi'  constant  ahirni  fur 
the  Hatety  of  their  coa»tM.  There  i.H  Htill  a  very  frequent  inter- 
course hy  i'ouriefH  Initween  FraiH-e  and  thin  country,  but  it  \h 
not  lH!li(>ved  that  any  pro^;reKH  haM  U'cn  nia(h>  in  the  negotiation, 
were  it  not  for  our  Hnan<H>H  we  need  not  much  care  liow  hmg  the 
war  laMls,  hut  (he  expeuMe  to  which  we  arc  now  put  uiUHt  l)o 
ruinous.  Our  ex|H'nditure  for  the  present  year  Mr,  A<hlingtun 
ullowM  to  l>e  .£<){),r)0( ),()()().  The  pca<e  (tf  the  Continent  is  not 
yet  hy  any  nieans  assured.  The  execution  of  thr;  Treaty  of 
Luitevilie  ineetu  with  innunieruL>le  ohstaeU>s,  and  T  should  not 
he  at  all  surprised  to  see  the  whole  continent  of  Kuro|M>  again  a 
prey  to  the  Hanies  of  war.  Xeither  France,  Aufstria,  nor  i'rus- 
Hiu  H'duces  its  tr(K)ps  hy  a  single  file. 

LinoolnV  Inn,  Oclobor  8,  IHOl. 

My  DEAR  Fatiiku: — I  am  perHuade<l  it  is  unnecessary  for 
ine  to  hegin  by  informing  you  that  1  was  not  in  town  when 
your  letter  of  the  25th  ultimo  arriv«'d.  You  know  me  too  well 
to  believe  me  capable  of  negle<'ting  to  answer  it  the  moment  I 
Wius  acquainted  with  its  contents.  I  am  vexed  beyond  what  T 
am  able  to  express  to  think  of  the  uneasiness  you  may  lie  suffer- 
ing. If  you  really  believed  me  to  be  in  London  you  would  do 
nje  an  injury  if  yon  did  not  believe  that  some  fatal  accident  had 
befallen  me.     It  wti-i  «tnly  last  night  at  a  late  hour  that  your 


18^, 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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11.25 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  •72-4503 


76 


LIFK  Ol'    LOUD  LAMPHELL. 


[1801. 


letter  was  put  into  my  hand,  so  that  I  now  embrace  the  very 
earliest  opportunity  of  returning  an  answer  to  it.  How  happy 
should  I  be  to  accept  your  invitation  !  To  spend  but  a  few  days 
in  Cupar  I  would  readily  brave  the  fury  of  the  elements  and 
give  up  every  plan  of  amusement  however  fondly  cherished. 
But  the  fates  forbid  and  I  must  submit  to  destiny.  Even  had  I 
received  your  letter  ten  days  ago,  it  would  have  been  quite 
impossible  for  me  to  go  to  the  North.  The  meeting  of  Parlia- 
ment was  even  then  quite  uncertain,  and  I  could  not  have  been 
spared  without  putting  my  colleagues  to  great  inconvenience. 
Besides  many  other  little  things  to  be  done  about  the  paper,  the 
winter  theatres  are  both  open,  and  we  are  obliged  to  give  a 
di'omatic  critique  almost  every  night.  Drury  Lane  is  assigned 
to  me,  and  I  am  sometimes  obliged  to  go  to  Covent  Garden. 

I  have  had  a  very  pleasant  excursion  through  Kent,  Sussex 
and  Surrey.  Fortunately  Ave  had  expeditious  judges  at  the  Old 
Bailey,  and  the  sessions  closed  almost  a  week  sooner  than  was 
expected.  The  weather  was  now  fine,  and  I  was  determined  to 
go  a  pleasuring.  Ac(!ordiugly  on  Saturday  the  26th  I  sallied 
forth  from  Lincoln's  Inn  about  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  taking  the  way 
to  Billingsgate.  In  my  coat  pocket  I  carried  a  shirt,  a  nightcap 
and  several  ncckhandkerchicfs ;  in  my  breeches  ten  bas-reliefs 
of  George  III.  in  gold  ;  in  my  hand  I  bore  an  umbrella.  On 
arriving  at  the  Quay  I  was  informed  that  there  was  a  hoy  to 
sail  for  Margate  at  five  o'clock.  I  then  went  to  the  *  Queen's 
Head '  and  ordered  a  lish  dinner.  Being  a  good  deal  at  a  loss 
what  to  do  with  myself  while  it  was  getting  ready,  I  began  to 
think  that  I  might  frequently  be  in  similar  difficulties  during 
the  course  of  ray  journey.  I  therefore  determined  to  buy  me  a 
copy  of  Virgil,  and  immediately  went  out  in  search  of  one.  To 
the  disgrace  of  the  City,  I  wandered  more  than  half  an  hour  in 
vain,  and  it  was  not  till  I  had  reached  the  very  extremity  of 
Paternoster  Row  that  I  at  last  succeeded.  After  eating  a  good 
dinner,  I  embarked  and,  the  tide  turning,  we  hauled  off.  My 
fellow  passengers  were  pretty  numerous,  but  so  exactly  resem- 
bling those  represented  by  the  satirists  of  the  age  to  be  found  on 


1801.] 


SAILING   IX  A  MARGATE  HOY. 


77 


board  this  species  uf  conveyance,  that  it  would  be  mere  oommon- 
place  to  describe  them,  or  their  behavior.  I  had  a  little  flirta- 
tion with  a  cheesemonger's  daughter  who  was  going  to  Margate 
along  with  her  mammar,  but  she  was  rather  too  suddenly  loving, 
and  I  went  off  in  disgust.  There  was  scarcely  a  breath  of  wind, 
so  that  it  WMS  low  water  before  we  had  got  far  below  Gravesend. 
Here  we  cast  anchor,  and  remained  for  the  night.  You  can 
form  no  idea  of  the  elegant  accommodation  to  be  found  on  board 
these  hoys.  After  singing  and  dancing  and  romping,  we  went 
to  bed  and  lay  snug  till  six  next  morning.  A  breeze  had  sprung 
up  through  the  night,  and  we  were  now  near  the  Nore.  This 
was  not  the  pleosantest  day  of  the  eight.  In  the  first  place,  I 
was  almost  starved.  I  had  foolishly  supposed  that  these  vessels 
were  on  the  same  footing  with  the  Berwick  smacks,  and  hod 
neglected  to  lay  in  any  provender.  Nothing  was  to  be  sold  but 
porter.  Upon  this  therefore  and  a  few  biscuits  I  was  obliged  to 
live,  while  othera  were  regaling  themselves  with  their  tea,  their 
coffee,  their  rounds  of  beef,  their  cold  fowls,  and  their  knuckles 
of  ham.  How  did  I  now  regret  that  I  had  desei-ted  my  pretty 
and  well  provided  cheesemongress !  Had  the  wind  remained 
steady  we  should  have  reached  Margate  to  dinner,  but  about 
noon  it  fell  a  dead  calm  and  we  were  obliged  to  let  go  our 
anchor.  I  had  recourse  to  philosophy,  and  pronounced  with 
exultation,  *  The  wise  man  in  all  situations  may  be  happy  j'  but 
my  unpleasant  sensations  about  the  sternum  remained  unsub- 
dued, and  I  was  at  last  obliged  to  exclaim  with  impatience, 
'  Who  can  bear  a  fire-brand  in  his  hand  by  thinking  of  the 
frosty  Caucasus  ?  or  set  at  naught  fell  hunger's  cruel  gnawings 
by  looking  forward  to  to-moiTow's  meal  ? '  There  was  an  inn 
at  a  small  distance  on  the  Isle  of  Sheppey,  but  the  skipper  would 
allow  no  one  to  go  on  shore,  and  even  refused  10s.  ^d.  for  his 
boat  which  two  or  three  of  us  had  agreed  to  club.  Between  ten 
and  eleven  we  ari'ived  within  half  a  mile  of  Margate,  but  there 
was  not  enough  water  in  the  harbor  to  allow  us  to  enter.  Some 
went  on  shore  in  boats.  I  preferred  another  night  of  fasting  to 
entering  at  such  an  houi'  and  in  such  a  manner  a  place  of  which 


78 


UFB  OF   T/)RD  CAMPRELIi. 


[1801. 


I  knew  m  littlv  oh  of  a  city  in  the  moon.  The  night  was  so 
fine  nnd  the  8(«nc  so  beautiful  (tlic  moon  had  risen  from  the 
waves  about  an  hour  before)  that  I  must  do  myself  the  justice  to 
de('hu't>  r  forgot  all  the  evils  of  nn  I'mpty  stomach,  and  for  a 
couple  oi'  lioui*8  walked  on  the  dc<'k  altogether  enraptured.  I 
mHHl  not  say  how  my  thoughts  were  chiefly  employetl.  Some 
philosopher  has  quaintly  observtnl  that  he  was  never  less  alone 
tlian  when  alone.  I  am  often  ready  to  join  him.  In  company  I 
(Hinvej-so  with  the  ignorant,  the  unfe<>liiig,  or  the  profligate  ;  when 
by  myself,  T  st»e  Ixiforc  me  those  whom  I  love,  esteem,  and  honor. 
On  Monday  morning  T  was  up  with  the  lark.  Having  circium- 
ambulatcil  the  town  I  r('turne<l  to  the  harlM>r,  and  mounting  a 
bathing  machine  was  draggal  into  a  crowd  of  ladies  and  gentle- 
men Avantoning  with  the  waves.  I  had  a  most  charming  bath, 
and,  to  my  no  small  astonishment,  found  myself  to  possess 
my  faculty  of  swimming  in  as  great  i)erfcction  as  if  I  had 
bathed  regularly  every  day  for  several  years.  The  time  was 
now  arrived  when  the  fatal  sisters  had  decnicd  that  my  belly 
should  l)e  iillcd.  As  soon  as  I  was  dreased  I  repaired  to  one 
of  the  hotels  and  ate  a  breakfast  like  which  few  have  been 
eaten  at  Margate.  I  hatl  thought  of  rcnuiining  here  some 
days,  but  finding  nobody  that  I  knciw,  immediately  after  I 
had  seen  everything  remarkable  about  the  place,  I  mounted 
the  clift'  and  set  forward,  keeping  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
precipice.  I  turned  to  the  North  Foreland,  passed  through 
Kingsgate  and  Broadstairs  and  arrived  at  Ramsgate.  I 
stoppetl  here  about  an  hour  to  admire  its  admirable  harbor,  and 
then  continuetl  my  t<  ute.  About  five  o'clock  I  reached  Sandwich, 
and  Deal  about  scven  I  had  walked  not  much  less  than  twenty- 
eight  miles.  Having  besiwken  supper,  T  went  upon  the  beach, 
and  was  a  good  deal  amused  by  seeing  the  Iwats  from  Lord 
Nelson's  fleet  coming  on  shore  and  putting  off.  Neither  this  nor 
any  night  while  on  my  travels  did  I  sleep  tolerably,  and  the  cause 
I  assign  for  my  restlessne&s  will  appear  a  strange  one — the  softness 
of  the  beds.  At  first  from  poverty,  and  now  from  inclination,  I 
always  sleep  at  home  upon  a  mattress.     However  I  rose  refreshed 


1801.] 


REVIEW   BEFORE  GENERAL    IIUIJBE. 


79 


ere  some 


on  Tuesday  tnorning  and  Hct  off  for  Dover.  The  diHtancc  by  the 
highway  in  only  eight  miles,  but  there  m  a  footpath  along  the 
oliifs  and  I  [)rcferrcd  that,  though  it  is  three  miles  round.  I  had 
a  most  interesting  walk — interesting  on  many  accounts,  but  chiefly 
from  the  distinct  view  which  I  had  of  the  coast  of  France.  I 
8aw  Calias  almost  as  distinctly  as  I  used  to  do  Lcith  from  King- 
horn,  and  Boulogne  with  the  English  ships  cruising  l)ofore  it 
was  distinctly  visible.  My  sensations  were  indeed  very  powerful. 
Before  I  ivached  Dover  I  hwl  the  unexpected  pleasure  of  witness- 
ing a  grand  review.  Upon  arriving  at  the  top  of  the  hill  imme- 
diately north  of  the  castle,  I  was  surprised  to  find  the  valley  below 
filled  with  armetl  men  in  a  hostile  j)08ture.  A  fight  soon  after 
began.  An  attempt  was  made  to  carry  one  of  the  outworks  of 
t\w  foitification ;  the  assailants  were  routed  and  took  to  flight.  I 
afterwai-ds  learned  that  this  was  the  garrison  going  through  the 
various  manocjuvrcs  of  attack  and  defence  before  Geneml  Hulse. 
The  review  l)eing  over,  and  having  contemplated  all  the  beauty 
of  Dover  assembled  on  the  oca^sion,  I  s{)cnt  an  hour  in  the  castle 
(the  works  of  which,  super-  and  sub-terraneous,  arc  to  be  sure 
most  stupendous),  and  then  went  into  the  town.  At  the '  Ship ' — 
the  most  extravagant  inn  in  England — I  had  luncheon  and  break- 
fast in  one.  I  then  ascended  Shakespeare's  cliff,  which  is  to  the 
west  of  the  town.  Had  I  not  read  Shakespeare's  description  of 
it,  I  should  have  thought  it  very  terrible,  but  my  expectations 
were  too  high.  The  effect  would  be  increased  were  it  perfectly 
peri)endicular.  At  present  upon  some  parts  you  might  follow 
*  the  dreadful  trade  of  samphire  gatherer '  without  very  imminent 
danger.  I  was  now  on  the  road  to  Folkestone,  distant  seven 
miles,  and  here  I  intended  to  paas  the  night.  I  had  not  gone 
fju",  however,  before  I  met  with  a  soldier  who  was  going  within 
a  mile  or  two  of  Hythe,  seven  mile.s  farther.  1  found  some 
entertainment  in  his  company,  and  walked  along  with  him  to 
Sandgate,  a  village  composed  of  houses  let  out  to  pea-bathers. 
Here  I  bathed  and  drank  tea.  By  the  time  I  had  taken  my 
fifth  cup  it  was  almost  quite  dark,  and  I  was  still  several  miles 
from  Hythe.    However  for  this  renowned  city  I  set  off,  and 


80 


lilFE  OF  IX)RD  GAMPBETiT.. 


[1801, 


fortunntely  before  I  hod  walked  many  yards  I  overtook  u  tilt 
wagon  which  carried  me  for  sixpence  to  the  'White  Hart.'  This 
is  the  only  cast  I  got  during  my  tour.  Having  spent  the  night 
here  a»  usual,  that  is  to  my,  eating  chops,  drinking  punch,  and 
reading  Virgil,  I  took  my  umbrella  in  my  hand  a  little  before 
nine,  nnd  again  moved,  keeping  one  side  turned  to  the  sea  and 
the  other  to  the  land.  I  breakfasted  at  Roraney,  which,  by  the 
bye,  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  isthmus  of  the  jH^ninsula  of 
which  Dungeness  is  the  extrenuty,  is  to  be  retikonctl  an  inland 
town.  From  thence  I  continued  my  way  through  a  dead  level, 
formerly  (nnd  at  no  very  distant  period)  overflowed  by  the  sea, 
till  I  reached  Rye,  a  distance  of  thirteen  miles.  In  the  course 
of  this  stage  I  vented  many  curses  upon  the  makers  of  the  road, 
which  seemed  to  have  l)een  laid  out  by  an  old  sailor  when  he  had 
the  M'ind  right  ahead.  I  was  now  a  good  deal  at  a  loss.  I  had 
yet  two  hours  of  daylight  and  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen  at 
Rye;  but  Hiustings,  the  next  stage,  was  at  least  twelve  miles;  it 
likcM'ise  rained  very  heavily .  Off  I  set,  without  entering  a  house, 
and  reached  Hastings  as  the  clock  struck  seven,  I  need  not  say 
exceedingly  tired,  having  walked,  some  told  me  thirty-four,  others 
thirty-six  miles,  in  very  little  more  than  ten  hours.  What  I  had 
chiefly  to  lament  \»'as  that  my  feet  were  sadly  crippled.  Not 
knowing  the  project  I  was  about  to  form,  I  had  left  London  in 
a  pair  of  Hessian  boots  too  small  for  me  every  way.  At  Deal  I 
threw  away  my  sto<'king8,  but  I  found  myself  worse  without  them. 
The  tendons  and  muscles  of  my  legs  also,  not  having  room  to 
play,  were  very  much  out  of  order.  To  Brighton  however  I 
had  said  that  I  would  go,  and  as  it  was  only  on  foot  that  I  could 
make  the  journey  (the  road  being  so  little  frequented  that  there 
is  not  a  stage-coach  tJ  e  whole  way),  I  determined  to  try  my  legs 
once  more,  and  rather  than  give  up  the  enterprise  to  creep  thither 
on  all  fours.  On  Thursday  I  breakfasted  at  Bexhill,  six  miles 
on.  Here  I  bought  a  pair  of  stockings  and  found  considerable 
benefit  from  them.  A  tendon  however  under  my  left  knee 
refused  at  times  to  do  his  ofiice,  and  it  was  with  the  utmost  difl&- 
culty  that  I  reached  Eastbourne  (thirteen  miles)  by  six  o'clock. 


1801.] 


SEAFORD  AND  BHIOIITHELMHTONK. 


81 


Here  I  detcrinined  to  hire  a  horse,  but  not  a  honic  could  I  find. 
The  inn-kec|)cr8  Hceniod  to  have  combined  together  to  harass  me. 
Their  object  wtus  to  make  me  take  a  post-chaise.    One  fellow  at 
lost  agreed  to  let  me  an  animal  for  eightpcnoe  a  mile  if  I  would 
hire  a  man  to  bring  him  bock,  assuring  me  I  should  find  a  poet- 
chaise  much  cheaper.     I  exclaimed,  ran  out  of  the  town,  and, 
without  thinking  properly  what  I  was  about,  set  out  for  Scaford, 
a  town  at  the  distance  of  nine  miles.     At  Scaford  I  actually 
arrived,  but  God  forbid  I  should  ever  have  such  another  walk : 
to  walk  I  was  unable,  I  was  obliged  to  run.     Excess  of  danger 
makes  cowards  brave,  and  excess  of  fatigue,  I  fancy,  makes  the 
weary  vigorous.    To  crown  all,  I  lost  my  way,  and  had  I  not 
accidentally  met  a  cowherd,  must  have  spent  the  night  aub  Jove. 
However,  after  I  had  lain  half  an  hour  upon  tliree  chairs,  and 
drunk  a  few  cups  of  coffee,  I  was  greatly  revived  and  able  to 
enjoy  the  sensations  of  successful  perseverance.     I  was  now 
within  thirteen  miles  of  the  place  where  my  labors  were  to  end ; 
and  next  day,  about  three  o'clock,  I  entered  Brighthelmstone  in 
triumph.    I  am  sorry  that  my  paper  is  exhausted.     I  could,  I 
think,  have  given  you  some  not  uninteresting  particulars  of  the 
manners  of  this  celebrated  seat  of  fashionable  dissipation.    I 
spent  two  days  in  it  very  pleasantly,  and  much  more  profitably, 
I  believe,  than  if  I  had  been  locked  up  in  my  chambers.    On 
Saturday  forenoon  I  intended  to  have  written  for  Jess  on  account 
of  my  travels ;  but  while  I  was  at  breakfast  in  the  hotel  I  read 
the  'Courier'  of  Friday,*  and  my  travels  vanished  into  insignifi- 
cance.   Being  acquainted  with  nobody,  sight  was  the  only  avenue 
by  which  I  could  receive  information,  and  by  Sunday  morning 
I  had  seen  everything  worth  seeing.    Therefore,  after  bathing 
and  breakfasting,  I  mounted  a  coach,  which  at  seven  o'clock  set 
me  down  at  Charing  Cross.     My  expense,  though  great,  was  not 
greater  than  I  expected,  and  I  really  think  that  my  money  was 
not  thrown  away,  but  exchanged  for  value.    I  was  very  well 
before,  but  now  I  have  got  'the  rude  bloom  of  health.'    I  have 
laid  in  great  materials  for  reflection,  for  conversation,  and  for 


^  Containing  the  news  of  peace. — Ed. 


I.IKK  or   T/)RD  CAMPRKM.. 


[1801. 


comiMihitioii.     Ill  (>vc>i'y  |Hiiiit  of  view  I  huv(t  tvtiMon  to  Im;  MitiH- 
fictl  with  my  (•xiMirwrn. 

Tlu!  iH'uee  \n  rct'koncd  udvuiitngroUH  to  the  coiiiitfy  though 
moHt  (li»«gnu>crul  to  Mr.  Pitt.  All  art-  huppy,  t-XH-pt  WiiKlhum 
and  a  few  8Uoh  bloodhounds.  Many  of  the  tiivt  iiicroantilu 
houscM  in  London  will  Ixt  utterly  utidoiie.  There  really  would 
not  have  be«!n  a  gn-ater  rtjvolution  in  the  (Mty  had  the  French 
got  jKiHWHMion  of  it.  Parliament  meets  immediat<'ly.  The  anni- 
versary of  Fox's  clc(!tion  for  WcwtminsUr  is  on  Saturday.  If 
he  makes  a  good  speech  I  shall  scml  you  a  'Chroiiiele'  on  Mon- 
day. People  now  ))egin  to  tliink  that  he  prophesied  from  inspi- 
ration. Reineml)er  me  afTi^'tionatcly  to  my  dear  sisters,  Jeis, 
Jane,  Eliza,  T^indsay,  and  Magdalen. 

Ever  yours, 

•  ,  J.   CAMPBEMi. 

I  began  to  reaii  over  what  I  had  written,  but  find  I  Imve  not 
time.     May  you  have  patience  I 


Lincoln'H  Inn,  Octoli«ir  fl,  1801. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  Since  my  last  the  greatest  event 
has  happened  which  the  world  has  witnessed  for  many  years.  On 
Thursday  evening  last  at  seven  o'clock  prclimintu'ies  of  jieace 
were  signed  between  the  King  of  Great  J^ritain  and  the  French 
llcpublic ;  on  the  part  of  England  by  Ijord  Ilawkesbury,  and 
on  tlic  i)art  of  France  by  Monsieur  Otto.  We  give  up  all  our 
conquests  except  Ceylon  in  the  East  Indies,  an<l  Trinidad  in  the 
West.  The  Cape  is  to  be  restored  to  the  Duteh  and  made  a  free 
port.  Before  this  reaches  you,  probably  a  veiy  long  \n Idle,  you 
will  have  heard  all  the  particulars ;  it  would  l>o  idle  therefore  for 
me  to  detail  them.  The  news  excited  universal  joy.  Nothing 
was  ever  .so  unexpected.  All  hope  of  a  succsessful  issue  to  the 
negotiation  had  vanished,  and  on  Friday  morning  the  papers, 
ministerial  and  anti-minist-erial,  w(!re  filletl  with  long  speculations 
going  lo  prove  that  it  would  instantly  break  off.  The  peace  is 
most  disgmceful  to  Mr.  Pitt.    All  allow  that  he  is  the  author  of 


1801.] 


i'Eacj:  with  fuan(  k. 


88 


it,  and  iimiiy  think  that  hu  will  rt'siiinc  hJH  Miit  iiniiKHliutely. 
The  (liHcuiwiuiM  in  Purliument  will  Im>  rxccctlingly  interesting ;  it 
mcetH  ulmoHt  ininiwliatcly.  Windhiiin,  the  MimpiiH  of  Hucking- 
hum,  and  u  tuw  inoru  huvt;  annouiiciKl  thtur  dotcrniination  to 
opiMNM)  the  |>rcliniinari(>H  with  the  gn>at(>st  HtrcnuouHncMt.  In  the 
HouHo  of  (.'omiiionH  I  do  not  think  they  will  vote  twenty.  The 
terniH  are  bud,  'ti.s  true,  but  everyone  inuHt  In;  t-onvinccd  that  it 
wouUl  Im;  far  l)etter  to  agree  even  to  worM>  terniM  than  to  continue 
the  war.  You  will  have  the  Fix-neh  for  your  neighbora  at  Pondi- 
eherry,  &e.,  but  I  hojKJ  no  other  effect  will  now  be  produced  by 
their  prcHencu  than  to  make  you  more  vigilant  and  more  moder- 
ate. According  to  my  view  of  thing?<  the  rapacity  of  the  French 
in  Euro[)e  doen  not  greatly  cx<>ecd  that  of  the  English  in  India. 
But  you  would  no  doubt  tell  me  fhut  you  never  interfere  with 
foreign  Ht4itt>8  except  for  their  l)eiu'tit,  and  that  you  extend  your 
empire  only  to  extend  the  empire  of  happinetw.  Hml  Republi- 
can France  hud  an  opportunity  of  interfering  with  the  native 
princes  liefore  the  merited  fall  of  Tippoo,  I  Hhould  have  been 
very  nmch  afraid,  but  I  trust  your  dominion  now  rents  on  a 
foundation  not  to  be  shaken  by  all  their  machinations. 

Linroln'i  Inn,  Jnnunry  30, 1802. 

My  dkak  Bhotheh  : — After  monthM  of  anxiety  I  .  "^  last 
assuriMl  of  your  welfare.  Your  letter  of  June  4  reached  Jupar 
on  the  2.3d,  and  I  had  a  copy  of  it  on  Wednesday.  Need  I  say 
how  tiaiisported  we  all  are ?  Not  only  in  health,  but  prosperous 
beyond  our  fondest  hopes !  From  some  fatality  we  had  heard 
nothing  of  you  since  your  first  letter  from  Calcutta.  Ship  arrived 
after  ship,  and  flet^t  after  fleet,  without  bringing  us  a  line.  I  was 
unhappy  to  a  degree  which  for  the  sake  of  n>y  manhood  I  would 
wish  to  forgot.  Yet  had  1  not  some  rea«on  to  fear  an  event  which 
woiikl  have  filled  the  whole  of  my  future  life  with  .sorrow  and 
bitterness?  It  is  only  the  ho|)c  of  again  embracing  my  dear 
brother  that  enables  me  to  keep  afloat  in  the  eddy  which  whirls 
me  round. 

...  I  continue  to  pull  at  the  oar  pretty  contentedly.     It  is 


I.II'K  nV   I.Oltl)  C'AMl'Ut:LlM 


[1801. 


only  however  tho  iiii|MNMiliility  of  my  lM>in)(  in  u  more  eligible 
■ituution  timt  pit'vcritM  inu  i'roiii  iiiurinuriiiK.  I  fliiil  my  bu«inoi« 
in  the  |Ni|H>r  not  in  uny  <!«>((»>(•  unpUiMunt,  un<l  I  am  on  tho  bcvt 
tcrniM  with  my  chirf.  lUit  um  I  liocomu  mon.>  known  I  find  the 
olwtiioleH  thrown  in  tho  way  of  my  HuctcuM  hy  Minn  a  roportcr 
b(>(«)nio  daily  mori>  formidable.  I  am  alm4>luti!ly  prttvcntctl  from 
formin){  any  aniuaintancu  with  my  follow  HtudontM,  and  I  am 
conHtantly  in  terror  when  obliged  to  iNMimon^^  them.  My  HpiritM 
are  thuH  broken  and  my  encr^ieH  depremed.  IkHiden,  that  1  may 
have  the  lejwt  chanett  of  Mueecw,  I  mUHt  attend  for  a  year  or  two 
at  a  HiMH'ial  pleader'H  oiIi(H>,  and  this  would  Iw  alto^^ether  incom- 
patible with  my  irpotieriat  funetionn.  However,  I  am  not  without 
hoiycti  of  Hoon  Ixiing  able  to  Hup|H)rt  mywif  in  another  way. 
Nothing;  would  i>lea(M>  mc  so  well  iih  an  en^^^ement  to  travel  for 
a  year  or  two  with  some  young  man  of  large  fortune,  but  of  this 
I  have  not  the  Hmallent  ehanee.  My  chief  ho{>e  in  Home  lucra- 
tive literary  undertaking.  I  have  reached  the  8ummit  of 
new8papi>r  reputation,  and  I  dare  my  could  get  myself  well 
recommended  to  a  l)ookHeller.  If  I  could  dc<licate  the  morning 
to  my  profesHional  pursuits,  and  were  never  to  appear  but  as  a 
law-student,  I  should  go  on  with  the  most  sanguine  hoiM>s  of 
rising  at  the  bur.  I  am  vexed  that  I  have  said  ho  much  al)out 
myself,  but  I  must  say  a  few  words  more.  I  most  earnestly 
implore  you  not  to  think  of  sending  mc  any  money.  I  am  just 
as  rich  us  I  could  desire  to  be,  and  not  a  wish  of  my  heart  that 
money  can  purchase  remains  ungratified.  By  and  by  I  will 
accept  a  remittance  with  pleasure,  because  then  it  may  he  of  use 
to  me.  At  present,  as  God  is  my  witness,  by  remitting  me  any 
sum,  large  or  small,  you  would  distress  me  infinitely.  Do  not 
then,  as  you  value  ray  tranquillity,  till  you  hnve  consulted  me. 
I  give  you  my  word  that  I  will  apply  to  you  as  soon  as  my 
views  could  be  promoted  by  pecuninry  assistunco.  I  know  your 
henrt  nnd  should  rejoice  to  be  indebted  to  you,  instead  of  feeling 
the  obligation  a  weight. 

Nothing  of  much  consequence  has  lately  happened  in  the 
political  world.     The  definite  treaty  is  not  yet  concluded.     No 


1801.] 


TRIAL  or  GOVEHNOK  WALL. 


85 


u)i|)n>li<  ii'^loiM,  huwuvor,  am  eiiti>rtuiiu>«l  u|h>ii  the  <iut>Jcct.  Party 
politiiit  now  <>ngr(i(w  th«  chivi'  Hlitm>  of  the  public  Attention, 
Uruut  (■liuii({(>H  lire  tuliiiil  of  in  ihu  C*iibint>t.  I^onl  Wiwtmorft* 
Innd,  it  iit  Miid,  I^onl  LuwiMlmtii,  lionl  llolmrt  and  the  Duke  of 
Portland  pt  out  to  nmke  way  for  th«>  Duke  of  liedford,  Mr. 
Orcy,  Mr.  Tierncy,  Ac  ThiM  rumor  iM  vory  g(>ni>nilly  credited. 
Fox  certainly  docH  not  (?onie  in,  and  prolmbly  not  Sheridan. 
They  conuider  Orcy,  &v.,  iw  aiMwtatett.  You  ainnot  imagine 
how  the  Hpirit  of  party  Ium  died  away  within  the  last  three 
uiontliM.  lVH>r  Dilly  Pitt  han  falhn  most  Nidly.  lie  in  without 
an  ally.  However,  IiIh  iiifltuMKt!  nuiHt  remain  prcKligious,  and 
no  udminiHtratioii  iigainHt  which  he  t<M>k  an  active  |)art  could 
ritaud,  at  kiiMt  uuIchh  Fox,  luM^ked  by  the  i)eoplc,  were  at  the 
head  of  it.  There  never  wai4  anything  ho  alwurd  an  to  think  of 
un  adminiMtration  which  includcH  neither  of  them.  We  shall 
have  nothing  but  chaiig<>s.  It  in  universally  Wlieved  hero  that 
your  (ilovernor-Ctcnend'''  has  lM>cn  reinilled,  and  that  he  m  to  be 
stucTocded  by  Lonl  llobart.  The  <lir('<'torH  complain  of  his  ex- 
travagance, but  in  truth  arc  dittplcuMil  with  his  liberality  with 
regartl  to  fire  tnnh: 

What  luw  l)een  the  chief  t<»pic  of  cnnverxation  for  some  time 
back  is  the  trial  of  Lieutcnant-Coloiicl  Wall.  He  was  Gov- 
ernor of  Gorce  in  the  year  178.'J,  and  there  ordered  three  sol- 
diers to  be  Hcourged  in  nuch  a  manner  that  they  dietl,  without 
the  form  of  a  court-martial.  Soon  after  his  return  home  he  was 
apprclicnd(>d,  but  found  n)cans  to  escape  from  the  King's  mes- 
senger and  to  get  over  to  the  Continent.  There  he  remained 
near  twenty  yean*,  mIumi,  probably  imagining  that  all  the  wit- 
nesses against  him  M'cre  <lcad,  he  came  over  to  England  and 
i-eaigned  himself  into  the  bands  of  justice.  The  jury  found  him 
guilty  of  murder  and,  after  having  been  twice  respited,  he  was 
hanged  on  Friday  njorning.  The  populace  were  so  incensed 
against  him  that,  had  he  l)cen  reprieved  a  third  time,  it  is' 
thought  they  would  have  broken  open  the  prison  and  torn  him 


*The  Marquis  Wellesley. 


ura  or  ix>iu>  oampbklu 


[1801. 


piooemoAl,     Whoii  hit  Nt«'|>|N<«l  ii|)on  tin*  miiIYWIiI  thoy  inhiiiiiaiily 
guvt!  him  thrvo  chii'rM.* 

l.iiKoln'ii  Inn,  April  I,  |mo2. 

My  DKAii  Fatiikh: — I  (niiiiot  let  II  Mintrit'  diiy  |mimh  without 
iiiMW(>rin)(  yourn  of  t\w  27th  iilt.  I  Hhiill  Im*  iinhn|i|iy  I'vury  hour 
that  I  think  your  prtwiit  MMitiiuiiitM  niuiiin  of  nit*  and  of  my 
lituation.  Whnt  1  wn>t(<  you  I  do  not  at  all  now  r(<«'o||iH>t,  hut 
it  certainly  (wmld  not  JuHtify  you  in  Mup|MM*inf{  that  I  wom  nor- 
rowfully  pining;  away,  an  oltJH't  for  tho  coniiNuwion  of  my 
friondN.  I  am  tiM)  apt  to  Miy  all  that  I  fiH>l  without  conMidcrin); 
thncftiHit  it  may  pr(Mlu<'<>,  hut  thiM  view  of  thinfpt  I  n«*v<>r  myMtIf 
(Hitcrtiumxl.  No  nmn  \h  U'ttcr  HatinHcd  with  hiH  lot.  In  Homu 
thin^^  I  may  think  it  might  \tc  ameliorated,  hut  in  my  nurnt 
deH|)onding  miKxlH  I  am  ever  n>ndy  to  thank  heaven  for  the  HtA- 
tion  atwigned  me.  T  haveMHirecHof  pleiifmro  far  purer  and  more 
exquiHito  than  thone  whi<*h  are  o|M>n  to  many  of  the  moHt  favoriMi 
of  fortune.  When  I  look  biek  on  my  |NiMt  lite  there  are  few 
hardMhi|M  which  1  have  experieneeii  that  I  now  regret,  and 
though  the  diM^ipline  I  now  sutler  w  painful,  I  U'lieve  it  in 
beneficial.  I)o  not  then,  my  dear  father,  Hup|H)He  that  when  I 
complain  of  any  [mrtieuhir  c-inniniHtanee  I  bring  a  gtMieral  charge 
agaiuHt  my  destiny.  I  l)elieve  I  am  iih  happy  an  the  genenility 
of  mankind.  If  1  do  not  owe  much  t(»  the  preNcnt,  few  have 
Hueh  ho{M>H  from  the  future.  If  I  am  MometinuH  made  uiduippy 
by  thingf4  whieh  woidd  give  other  men  little  uneaHini'HM,  I  know 
pleuMureH  to  whi(*h  they  are  inHensible.  I  am  (ii>rf(!(!tly  HatiHfied. 
Whatever  thvM  hIiouUI  es<'ape  nw.  in  a  moment  of  irritation  or 
despoudenix',  do  not,  I  lM;H('eeli  you,  Ixdieve  that  I  utter  the  Hcri- 
ous  sentiments  of  my  mind.  You  have  no  reason  whatever  at 
any  time  to  Ix;  unhappy  on  my  account.  I  have  an  un.H{>eakabIe 
pleasure  in  unlxwoming  mywlf  Ut  you  without  rewrve,  but  it  in 
niHvh  too  d(»rly  purcha.<H><I  at  the  ex|H'n8c  of  y()ur  |)etux).  Put 
the  just  construction  on  what  T  my,  and,  unless  unknown  mis- 

*  Howell's  State  TriaU,  vol.  xxviii.  p.  51.    See  account  of  the  trial  of  Qot- 
ernor  Wall  in  Livt»  of  the  Chief  Juitxcei,  vol.  iii.  p.  147. — Eo. 


1803.] 


VIKWH  ON    n»:iH»ltTISM. 


•T 


rortiiiMi4  nn*  in  Minn'  lor  itii',  yoii  will  U'liitvi*  tliut  Uki>  otlirr  in«n, 
1  taittf  (I  iiiixtiin>  into  which  twil  onN^nt — hut  thnt  (/(hhI  Im  Krmtljr 
prt*(loin!iinnt.  Ymi  iimy  huvc  lu  r(>Kn>t  Ihnt  your  mm  In  not  more 
worthy  of  you,  hut  you  will  huvi*  no  mmtn  to  think  that  hn  hwi 
Intu  hiinlly  ih'ult  with  hy  Cortum*. 

I  iini  unxiouN  to  M't  niyM>lt'  ri^ht  with  you  on  another  |Ntint. 
You  think,  nn<l  with  Mifiuin^  n'liMin,  that  I  fiH'l  an  unjiuttifluhlo 
anti|Nithy  to  my  |iriMi>nt  (Mt'uiNition.  .  .  .  Hiunuol  Johnson  wiw 
a  n>|M)rt(>r,  hut  iit  ii  tinn'  wIumi  Im-  wum  oIiII^i^mI  to  \n\nn  t\w  u\ff\\t 
itn'trhitl  out  u|M)n  th«>  a<«ht>N  ot'  a  )(liu«M-houM>.  I  vow  aCtcr  th«> 
pnm'ut  wwion  uwvv  to  «nt«'r  tin-  nallt-ry  iw  u  M'|M>rt<»r  more. 
No  future  Nuctifw  could  coni|H>nNitc  for  my  prcwnt  feeling ; 
ami  to  continue  in  thiH  line  would  Im>  to  n^ndcr  my  chancv  of 
•unxwM  alto}{<>thcr  dcH|H>mtc.  Hut,  my  dear  father,  do  not  nup- 
\nnvi  that  my  renolution  wavers.  Far  from  ehan)i(inK  my  viewH 
without  concun'enc«>,  my  viewn  are  unehan){eiil>le,  I  rejoic*' 
morit  and  more  every  day  that  I  en^^ai^nl  in  the  enterpriNC,  and 
difHeqltieN  hy  no  nutinfl  diHcouniKe  me.  I  now  witli  |H>rfe<>t 
knowIcd)i;(>  of  the  Huhject  can  dc<*lare  that,  if  T  could  maintain 
mynelf  cntlitahty  for  a  few  yearn,  I  should  have  a  very  fair 
elinnct!  to  riH<>  at  the  Knj^liHh  Uir.  My  pn>M>nt  meauM  fail  mc, 
hut  I  Hhall  find  others.  My  hrother,  iw  you  imagine,  hiiM  made 
me  the  n.oMt  lilM>nil  otferH.  IIIh  iiHHixtancc  I  would  readily 
accept  to  defray  any  ciiMunt  ex|)enH<',  hut  my  m/ufar  Hup|)ort  I 

muHt  earn  hy  my  own  exertiouH.     T  eoidd  not  !• the  thouj^ht 

of  him  Ix'ing  H<>orche<l  hy  a  vertitid  nun  at  ii  dreary  dintanoo 
from  all  who  are  dear  to  him,  merely  to  hutnor  my  caprif?e. 
The  timf»8  are  very  ha<l,  hut  Htill  \  hoiw  to  got  into  Momo  way  in 
which  I  may  uiakc  41150  or  X2(K)  a  year  hy  working  privately 
in  my  chamlK'rn.  1  nhould  then  reckon  myHolf  an  inde|)ondcnt 
man.  I  Nhould  Im'  content,  to  acctmiplinh  thin,  to  labor  much 
hard<>r  than  I  now  do  for  my  four  guineas  a  week.  I  trunt  that 
in  thecoiiPHc  of  a  few  montliM  I  nhall  Ik;  able  to  tell  you  that 
my  wlslu's  are  act'omplinhcd.  Then  shall  I  emerge  from  my 
hiding-hole.  Then  shall  you  hear  of  the  speeches  wh'wh  I 
make,  and  niy  rapidly  wideninip  <iircIo  of  acquaintance.     I  shall 


88 


I.IFi:  OI'   LOUD  CAMl'BKIJi. 


[1802. 


mi" 


write  to  you  to-day  of  dining  with  Tom  Erakinc,  and  to-morrow 
of  becoming  a  member  of  the  Pic-nic  Club.  Many  conqucHtfl 
shall  I  make  among  the  women,  and  much  envy  shall  I  excite 
among  the  men.  The  hour  of  my  being  called  to  the  bar  is 
eagerly  expected,  and  every  litigant  in  Westminster  Hall  is  then 
eager  to  l)ecome  my  client. 

'  Lincoln'B  Inn,  April  2B,  1802. 

My  dear  Brother: —  .  .  .  The  whole  world  is  once  more 
at  peace.  The  definitive  treaty  differa  scanxjly  in  anything  from 
the  preliminary,  and  j)eople  nre  (juite  at  a  loss  to  conjecture  the 
reason  of  the  long  delay  and  furious  altercations.  The  peace 
though  most  glorious  to  France,  is  certainly  upon  the  whole 
advantageous  to  England,  and  I  do  not  see  that  we  have  any- 
thing to  fear.  At  least,  if  we  had  able  men  to  direct  our  coun- 
cils. Addington  is  still  ostensible  Minister;  Pitt,  however, 
seems  preparing  l)y  degrees  to  resume  his  *"  i!/cr  place.  Dundas 
has  given  notice  to  his  constituents  that  he  docs  not  mean  again 
to  solicit  the  honor  of  rejircscnting  them,  and  is  immediately  to 
be  called  to  the  Upper  House  by  the  title  of  Earl  Melville. 
Charles  Hope,  it  is  said,  is  to  be  the  new  representative  for 
Edinburgh.  Parliament  we  ex|)ect  will  be  dissolved  in  the 
beginning  of  June.  There  will  be  a  good  many  contested  elec- 
tions, but  not  between  men  of  different  parties ;  and  tiiere  is  no 
doubt  that  a  Court  House  of  Commons  will  be  returned. 

Poor  Tom  Ei'skine  has  mot  with  a  cruel  disappointment. 
Lord  Kenyon  died  at  Bath  about  three  weeks  ago,  and  Law  is 
appointed  to  succeed  him.  Tom  came  down  on  his  marrow- 
bones to  Addington,  and  they  say  would  acitually  have  been 
made  Chief  Justice  had  not  Pitt  interferrcd.  However,  the 
Prince  of  Wales  has  appointed  Tom  his  Chancellor  and,  if  he 
were  now  king,  I  make  no  doubt  would  raise  him  to  still  higher 
honoi*s.  But  upon  the  Prince  no  reliance  can  be  plrced.  He 
favors  the  Opposition  at  present  because  they  support  his 
pecuniary  claims.  On  his  accession  he  will  probably  employ 
the  man  that  offers  him  the  largest  civil  list.     He  has  been 


1802.] 


TREATY  OP  AMIENS. 


f^\> 


shockingly  ill-used  by  Pitt — in  fact  persecuted — but  if  ho  had 
been  possessed  of  common  steadiness  and  prudence  he  would  not 
have  lost  his  popularity,  and  he  might  have  turned  Pitt  out  of 
office.  The  king  has  this  season  had  no  return  of  his  malady, 
and  I  imagine  is  not  a  much  worse  life  than  his  son.  Some  say 
he  is  in  a  state  of  almost  perfect  fatuity,  but  he  comes  fre(juently 
into  public,  and  seems  to  possess  all  the  intellect  with  which  he 
was  ever  favored.  .  .  . 

I  have  not  yet  said  anything  to  Spankie  about  leaving  the 
'Chronicle.'  I  shall  probably  continue  to  write  for  it  till  the 
beginning  of  next  soHsion.  I  am  not  without  hojies  of  getting  a 
new  engagement  with  it  which  might  not  be  known.  I  should 
be  very  happy  to  supply  it  with  articlos  and  theatrical  criticisms, 
in  the  comjwsition  of  both  of  M'hich  I  have  gained  considerable 
exjiertness.  But  this  dejiends  entirely  o;i  Spankie,  with  whom 
I  have  very  little  intimacy.  It  is  nither  hard  that  my  difficul- 
ties arc  of  a  nature  which  no  .spirit  nr»r  industry,  nor  even  talents, 
can  overcome.  I  still  hope  that  I'haoton's  epitaph  will  not 
altogether  suit  me. 

Peace  is  to  be  formally  i)ro<'laimwl  to-morrow,  and  the  town 
Is  to  be  brilliantly  illuminated  in  the  evening.  Monsieur  Otto's 
illuminations  are  to  cost  £1600.  The  communication  with 
France  will  henceforth  be  open  as  before  the  war.  I  have  still 
hopes  of  seeing  Paris  in  the  autumn. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  May  21, 1802. 

My  deak  Gkorge  : —  ...  Strange  things  you  will  sec  have 
been  going  on  at  Paris  within  the  last  three  weeks.  Bonaj)arte 
has  long  evidently  aimed  at  establishing  a  now  dynasty,  and  after 
various  infractions  of  the  constitution,  these  questions  have  been 
submitted  to  the  French  people:  'Shall  Napoleon  Bonaparte  be 
elected  Consul  for  life?'  'Shall  ho  be  empowered  to  name  his 
successor?'  Books  are  opened  in  all  the  communes.  It  is  said 
he  is  to  take  upon  himself  the  title  of  Bonapapte  I.  EiiPEROR 
OP  THE  Gauls.  Some  say  there  is  a  great  ferment  in  France, 
and  others  that  the  people  are  as  much  pleased  as  ever  they  were 

VOL.  I.  4* 


90 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPDELIi. 


[1802. 


with  their  republic.  This  much  is  certftin,  that  discontents  will 
soon  spring  up,  and  that  the  rugged  features  of  despotism  being 
unveiled,  there  will  be  innumerable  and  unceasing  attempts  to 
overthrow  it.  A  Brutus  will  probably  arise,  and  Bonaparte  will 
not  find  his  safety  increased  by  all  hopes  of  the  succession  being 
cut  off  from  his  generals.  His  death  is  an  event  to  be  desired 
for  the  peatse  of  the  world.  The  ruin  of  this  country  is  evi- 
dently the  grand  object  of  his  life,  and  besides,  as  often  as  there 
is  a  prospect  of  internal  disturbances  it  is  evidently  his  interest 
to  stir  up  a  foreign  war.  It  is  only  nominally  that  we  are  at 
peace  now.  Not  an  English  merchantman  nor  a  neiitral  with 
English  produce  is  allowctl  to  enter  the  ports  of  France,  and  we 
are  about  to  retaliate.  The  French  are  increasing  their  armies, 
oud  we  are  not  much  reducing  ours.  Europe,  however,  is  so 
dreadfully  exhausted  that  it  must  remain  for  some  time  unfit  for 
fresh  exertions.  Many  are  of  opinion  that  on  the  breaking  out 
of  a  new  war,  France  will  be  driven  within  her  ancient  limits — 
a  consummation  most  devoutly  to  be  wished  for.  Italy,  it  is 
said,  is  ready  to  revolt. 

The  state  of  our  domestic  politics  is  most  deplorable.  Nobody 
knows  who  is  minister  or  who  is  to  be  minister.  There  are  above 
twenty  separate  parties.  The  House  of  Commons  and  the  nation 
become  daily  more  ashamed  of  Addington,  and  he  must  go  out. 
To  have  such  a  man  at  the  head  of  affairs  is  most  disgraceful  and 
most  mischievous.  With  an  abler  and  more  respectable  admin- 
isti'ution  we  most  unquestionably  might  have  got  better  terms  of 
peace,  and  we  might  now  check  the  rapacious  atrocity  of  the 
Chief  Consul.  Pitt  daily  advances  more  and  more  to  the  fore- 
ground, but  the  royal  displeasure  is  still  a  great  obstacle  to  his 
return  to  office.  The  King  was  offended  with  the  plan  for  rais- 
ing a  statue  to  him,  and  this  is  to  be  deferred  till  his  death.  The 
quarrel  between  him  and  Windham  is  serious  and  irreconcilable. 
Windham  has  revealed  many  of  the  secrets  of  the  prison-liouse, 
and  arraigned  the  conduct  of  the  war  in  the  severest  terms. 
Dundas  disapproves  of  the  peace,  but,  true  to  himself,  would 
not  vote  against  it.     He  still  longs  for  place,  and  has  suj^acity 


i  1^ 


1802.] 


CONTEST   FOB  THE  CX)DNTY  OF  KENT. 


91 


enough  to  8eo  that  Pitt  must  soon  be  oBtensibly,  an  well  as  reully, 
Minister,  llv  hiw  not  yet  been  called  up  to  the  House  of  Peers. 
His  title  is  to  Ik»  Melville.  It  is  repoi-ted  that  Pitt  is  soon  to  be 
married  to  a  daughter  of  Lord  Carington.  I  should  l)e  glad  if 
this  were  true.  It  is  a  pity  that  great  men  lik(!  him  should  have 
no  (continuance. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  Friday,  July  16, 1802. 

My  dear  Father: —  ...  In  the  bcgiimiug  of  the  week  I 
had  a  very  pleasant  trip  to  Maidstone.  The  county  of  Kent  is 
keenly  contested,  and  1  went  to  send  up  by  express  the  state  of 
the  first  day's  poll.*  I  set  out  about  throe  on  Monday  afternoon 
with  another  gentleman  in  a  postchaise.  Together  with  a  large 
party  of  Blues,  we  dined  and  spent  the  night  at  Bexley  with 
Mr.  Ijee,  a  man  of  great  proj)erty  and  a  keen  friend  of  Mr. 
Honywood.  At  six  next  morning  about  sixty  of  us  breakfasted 
in  the  hall  and  then  proceeded  to  Dartford,  where  we  were  joined 
by  as  many  as  made  us  more  numerous  than  all  the  electors  of 
the  county  of  Fife.  The  cavalcade  was  almost  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  long,  and  we  had  several  flags  with  '  Hony  woo<l  and  Inde- 
pendence,' and  other  appropriate  inscriptions.  We  reached  Pen- 
enden  Heath,  where  the  ])oll  is  taken,  about  two  o'clock,  and  we 
found  it  one  of  the  grandest  sights  imaginable.  Many  parties 
not  inferior  to  oui-s  had  come  from  different  corners  of  the 
county,  and  for  a  circuit  of  several  mik\s  nothing  was  to  be  seen 
but  (jarriages,  horaemen,  and  standards.  Having  had  the  plea- 
sure to  send  off  the  intelligence  that  our  candidate  was  consider- 
ably ahead  of  the  two  othei-s,  I  took  supper  and  went  to  bed. 
On  Wednesday  morning  I  rose  at  seven,  walked  to  Rochester  to 
breakfast,  spent  an  hour  or  two  in  seeing  what  is  most  remark- 
able at  Chatham,  and  then  stepped  into  a  London  stage-coach. 
The  present  candidates  for  Kent  spent  each  in  1796  near  ^£30,- 
000,  and,  notwithstanding  the  Treating  Act,  their  expenses  on 
this  occasion  will  be  veiy  great.  Honywocxl  keeps  at  the  top  of 
the  poll  and  is  now  sure  to  be  returned.     The  elections  in  gen- 


*  Parliament  had  beon  dissolved  on  June  29. — Ed. 


92 


LIPE  OF  LORD  CAMPDRM.. 


[1802. 


eral  have  taken  a  very  uufavorablo  and  veiy  unexj)e«te«l  turn 
against  the  Court.  Several  boroughn  to  whioh  the  Trt^asury  has 
nominated  these  seventy  years  have  thrown  off  the  yoke  and  re- 
turned OpiMwition  mendxjrs.  This  is  partly  to  Ixj  nscrilMxl  to 
the  misnuutageincnt  of  Government,  and  partly  to  a  revolution 
in  public  opinion.  However,  the  Minister  from  this  quarter  has 
very  little  to  fear,  though  at  the  same  time,  if  the  partisans  of 
the  Court  continue  much  longer  without  a  heml  and  split  into 
such  u  number  of  parties,  the  OpjKwition  in  the  next  Parliament 
might  prove  extremely  formidable.  The  intrigues  of  Pitt  and 
Dundas  excite  much  interest,  but  they  are  at  present  wrapt  in 
imjieuetrable  mystery.  Nobody  knows  why  Harry  has  not  l)een 
creatctl  a  peer,  or  why  Pitt's  creature.  Lord  Caatlereagh,  has 
come  into  office. 


Lincoln's  Inn,  August  6, 1802. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  .  .  .  There  is  a  report  in  circulation 
at  present  that  the  King,  tired  of  the  cares  of  government,  means^ 
immetliately  upon  the  meeting  of  Parliament,  to  projwse  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  Regency.  In  this  case  Fox  would  certainly  be 
Minister.  I  have  a  very  poor  opinion  of  the  Princie,  but  I  do 
not  believe  he  would  at  once  desert  his  old  friends. 

My  j)Uui8  at  present  arc  to  report  law  for  another  year,  and  to 
make  a  grand  exertion  to  maintain  myself  the  remaining  two 
without  appearing  in  public.  In  addition  to  the  very  handsome 
present  you  have  already  made  me,  I  shall  not  scruple  to  accept 
jElOO  more  to  pay  the  Pleader's  fee.  You  will  not  suppose  I 
consider  with  perfect  satisfaction  the  idea  of  your  wasting  away 
under  an  Indian  sun  to  support  my  foolish  schemes.  It  is  with 
the  greatest  pain  that  I  deprive  you  of  the  fruits  of  your  dan- 
gers, your  talents,  and  your  good  fortune.  But  I  know  you 
speak  unaffectedly  when  you  say  that  you  can  spend  your  money 
no  way  more  agreeably  than  in  assisting  me,  and  that  it  would 
make  you  miserable  to  suppose  I  labored  under  any  difficulty 
which  you  could  remove.  I  dai-e  say  I  could  acquire  an  ade- 
quate knowledge  of  pleading  by  private  study,  but  I  should 


1802.] 


PROPOSES  TO  VISIT  PARIS. 


93 


«ver  oiler  be  reproached  with  ignoruncc.  People  look  much 
more  to  the  opportunities  one  hafi  htul  tlmn  to  one's  real  aoquire- 
ment8.  I  Hhould  like  to  l)c  rrffuUirly  bred  to  the  bar.  I  really 
believe  that  it  is  for  the  interest  of  the  family  that  we  should 
put  ourselves  to  this  oxjienHe,  however  enormous  it  may  appear. 
After  I  have  put  on  my  wig  and  gown  I  shall  be  at  no  loss. 
There  are  twenty  ways  that  I  (;ould  make  money  without  dis- 
credit, that  I  am  at  present  afraid  to  resort  to  from  the  dread  of 
giving  offence.  May  I  not  \\o\^  in  time  to  be  getting  a  few  half- 
guineas  for  making  motions  of  (course  ?  Perry  has  a  good  deal 
in  his  {K)wer,  and  I  think  is  very  much  disposed  to  befriend  me. 
I  fear  I  have  tired  you,  but  you  know  you  have  yourself  to 
blame. 

In  obedience  to  your  exhortations  I  mean  to  sjiend  a  part  of 
your  remittance  by  taking  a  trip  to  the  Continent.  I  at  present 
have  need  neither  of  new  law  books  nor  new  furniture,  and  I  do 
not  think  I  should  answer  your  generous  intentions  by  hoarding. 
Bonaparte  is  about  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  Flemish  subjects,  and  I 
have  it  in  contemplation  to  meet  him  at  Brussels.  Having  seen 
some  of  the  principal  towns  in  the  Netherlands,  I  shall  visit 
Paris.  My  next  may  very  probably  be  dated  from  that  cele- 
brated place.  I  should  gain  much  fewer  ideas  by  seeing  foreign 
countries  and  foreign  manners  some  yeare  hence.  My  mind 
would  then  have  reached  its  size,  and  my  imagination  would 
be  by  no  means  so  open  to  new  impressions.  I  do  not  propose 
to  be  away  above  three  or  four  weeks.  Perhaps  I  ought  to 
remain  at  home  and  study,  but  my  curiosity  is  no  longer  to  be 
restrained.  I  shall  apply  with  more  spirit  when  I  return  than 
if  I  had  been  pent  up  the  whole  autumn  in  London.  Next 
winter  I  shall  have  much  more  leisure  to  read  than  I  have  had 
the  two  last. 


Lincoln's  Inn,  August  19, 1802. 

My  dear  Father  : — Before  this  reaches  you  I  hope  to  be  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Channel.  I  set  out  to-morrow  for  Paris. 
I  am  afraid  you  will  think  me  extremely  childish  when  I  confess 


94 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1802. 


thnt  my  thouj^htfl  are  so  niuph  oc<Mipiwl  witli  my  journey  that  it 
is  with  (liffioulty  I  ain  for  a  momrnt  <lovot<!  my  attontion  to  any 
other  8ul)joct.  Even  the  (HHriipiitlon  which  of*  all  othcrH  gives 
me  the  {greatest  pleasure  I  enter  upon  at  this  moment  less  from 
inelination  than  a  sense  of  duty.  Rut  then  eonsider  I  am  going 
into  a  new  world.  My  most  fondly  j-herishetl  wish  is  abrmt  to 
lie  fulfilled.  I  gain  admission  to  the  rijhest  baufpiet  ever  served 
up  to  the  longing  intelleetualist.  T  am  to  sec  the  scenes  of 
memombic  transactions  whi<'h  have;  intereste<l  me  frtmi  the  first 
dawnings  of  reason,  and  I  am  to  Ih^  intrfKluced  to  men  who  will 
ho  famous  while  the  worhl  endures.  Whether  I  may  l)c  justified 
or  not,  no  excursion  has  interestetl  me  half  m  nuich  since  my  first 
visit  to  Dundee  about  seventeen  years  ago !  I  have  now  further 
views  than  to  gratify  infantine  curiosity.  I  hope  I  shall  not 
only  stare  and  wonder,  but  that  I  shall  enlarge  my  mind  and  add 
to  my  acquirements.  You  cannot  suppose  I  speak  in  derogation 
of  what  I  felt  when  I  left  London  about  two  years  ago,  or  what 
I  should  again  feel  were  I  now  leaving  liondon  for  the  same 
purpose.  Such  pleasui*e  is  very  diffcsrcnt  and  of  a  far  higher 
order.  .  .  . 

I  hope  that  by  means  of  this  tour  and  the  exertions  I  mean  to 
make  the  ensuing  winter,  I  shall  l»c  less  unworthy  of  appearing 
before  you  than  at  present,  and  that  the  plcasm-e  of  the  visit  on 
l)oth  sides  will  be  increased  by  its  being  thus  a  short  time  delayed. 
I  have  not  yet  determined  what  stay  I  make  in  Paris.  I  pro- 
bably shall  not  l)e  away  more  than  three  weeks.  I  had  firmly 
resolved  to  go  first  by  Ostend  to  Bru.«s(\ls,  but  the  Chief  Consul 
seems  to  have  changed  his  mind  about  his  progress  to  receive  the 
submission  of  his  Flemish  subjects.  I  am  to  travel  in  the  tUli- 
(jcncr,  which  takes  you  up  at  Charing  Cross  and  sets  you  down 
in  the  Rue  du  Bouloy  for  £4  13.s'.,  passage  at  Dover  includetl. 
But  of  eoui*se  you  pay  your  own  expenses  on  the  way.  I  do  not 
know  yet  whether  I  shall  put  up  at  a  hotel  or  try  to  get  private 
lodgings.  I  have  been  infinitely  obliged  to  Spankie  (who  returned 
from  France  about  a  week  ago)  for  his  friendly  offices  in  facili- 
tating my  journey.     He  has  got  me  a  letter  of  credit  for  £100 


1802.] 


PREPARES  FOR  THE  JOURNEY. 


1)5 


upon  Perrigaux,  the  fuinouH  banker,  witliout  a  \v(»i(l  having 
piisHod  about  the  wuy  the  huuih  are  to  lie  repaid  T  may  draw  for. 
You  may  l)e  very  sure  I  do  not  mean  to  HjK'nd  XlOO,  or  the  half 
of  it,  but  it  is  a  credit^ible  thing  to  have  this  eommand  of  money, 
besides  being  a  sjitisfaetory  proof  of  Spankie's  eonfideiice  and 
good  will.  I  wish  I  could  write  a  letter  or  two  from  Paris  for 
the  paper,  but  I  fear  everything  is  antieipatcd.  I  shall  give 
oixlers  for  a  'Chronicle'  to  be  sent  to  you  if  there  should  l)c  any 
one  during  my  absence  with  any  communication  from  me.  I 
shall  certainly  obey  your  admonition  by  making  the  language  my 
first  object.  At  present  I  can  scarcely  make  myself  intelligible 
in  French.  I  have  not  even  taken  any  pains  of  late  to  qualify 
myself  for  ap()caring  in  Paris ;  but  as  one  learns  best  to  swim  by 
plunging  at  once  into  deep  water,  so  by  throwing  oneself  into  a 
foreign  country  one  will  soonest  acquire  the  art  of  speaking  the 
language.  I  shall  deny  myself  the;  pleasure  of  English  society 
and,  however  awkward  I  may  feel,  mix  as  much  as  possible  with 
the  Parisians.  I  have  a  great  deal  to  unlearn.  Our  Scots  mode 
of  pronouncing  French  might  as  well  be  applied  to  Hebrew 
points.  I  shall  no  doubt  write  to  you  at  length,  but  I  shall  first 
expect  to  hear  from  you.  Address  to  me,  chez  Messrs.  Perriganx 
and  Co.,  Rue  Mont  Blanc,  tt  Paris.  You  must  pay  the  pastagc, 
which  I  believe  is  Is.  5c?. 

I  took  the  butter-kit,  &c.,  to  Wapping,  and  put  them  with  my 
own  hands  on  board  the  '  Thames,'  Drummond,  miuster.  I  was 
obliged  to  make  five  separate  articles.  The  kit,  two  chooses  (a 
Cheshire  to  keep  and  a  North  Wiltshire  for  present  use),  a  small 
box  of  moist  sugar,  the  maj),  and  the  memoir.  I  could  think  of 
nothing  to  put  in  the  kit  but  a  little  East  and  a  little  West  India 
rice.  I  likewise  threw  in  a  fig  or  two  and  some  white  sugar- 
candy  for  the  bairns,  and  an  old  nui})  of  London,  tf)  me  now 
useless,  to  remind  you  more  freshly  of  your  youthful  i'rolies  when 
at  a  distance  from  the  Presbytery  and  I'resbytcriaiiism.  I  was 
quite  unsatisfied  with  what  I  sent,  and  T  still  take  it  very  unkind 
in  you  that  you  would  not  assist  me.  I  hope  the  Cheshire  cheese 
will  turn  out  well.     I  tasted  about  twenty,  and  was  exceedingly 


96 


LIPB  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1802. 


perplexed  which  to  fix  upon.    I  wished  much  to  have  got  you  u 
8tilton,  but  they  arc  not  in  season.     My  dear  Father,  adieu : 

Where'er  I  roam,  whatever  realmi  to  neo, 
My  heart  untravelled  I'undly  turni  to  thee,— 
Still  to  my  Father  turns  with  ceaieleu  pain, 
And  drags  at  euob  remove  a  Isngtbaning  chain. 


1802.] 


BTAR'TO   FOR  CAI.AIH. 


91 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Acouir,  1802— Deocmber,  1803. 

L«tt«ra  from  Cftlaii,  Parii  and  the  Hague— Return  to  London — Rem&rki  OB 
Reporting— Spoakeri  in  the  Mouiie  of  Commons  and  House  of  Lords — 
Dramatic  Criticism— Trial  of  Colonel  PoKpard- I'lan  for  a  Continental 
Tour  with  Mr.  Rigg,  of  Tarvet — Renewal  of  Hostilities  with  Frnnce— 
He  joins  the  Bloomsbury  and  Inns  of  Court  Volunteers— Giveit  up 
Reporting  Law— Visit  to  8cotland— Return  Journey  by  the  Lakes, 
Liverpool  and  Manchester — Fear  of  a  French  Invasion, 

Calais,  August  24, 1802.    Tuesday  evening. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  am  now  on  French  ground,  but  my 
journey  has  been  much  slower  than  I  expected.  All  my  fellow 
travellers  have  gone  to  bed — I  could  not  yet  sleep.  Perhaps  I 
shall  arausc  Iwth  myself  and  you  by  writing  a  short  sketch  of 
what  I  have  done,  seen  and  hoard  since  my  last.  I  have  since 
received  so  many  new  impressions  that  it  seems  almost  an  age. 
I  hiul  then  got  a  recommendation  from  Ransom,  Morland  &  Co., 
the  bankers,  to  Lord  Hawkesbury,  and  I  expected  my  passport 
next  morning,  but  it  was  Saturday  before  a  fresh  supply  arrived 
from  his  lordship's  country  seat.  I  was  exceedingly  teased  at  the 
Foreign  Office,  besides  being  obliged  to  pay  £2  4a.  Regularly, 
the  passport  should  have  lain  with  Monsieur  Otto  till  Monday. 
However,  to  oblige  me,  he  countersigned  it  that  afternooir.  On 
inquiring  at  the  Bureau  des  Diligences,  I  found  that  all  the  inside 
places  were  taken  for  a  week.  In  settled  weather  I  should  have 
preferred  the  cabriolet  (a  seat  on  the  outside,  where  the  coachman 
sits  in  England),  but  I  was  much  afraid  of  rain.  I  appealed  to 
ray  fortune,  and  took  a  place  in  the  cabriolet  which  cost  me  14». 
less  than  the  other,  namely,  £3  18».  It  was  necessary  to  be  at 
the  *  White  Bear '  in  Piccadilly  at  four  in  the  morning.  I  there- 
fore determined  not  to  go  to  bed.  I  .sat  at  home  till  eleven,  then 
went  to  the  *  Cider  Cellar,'  Maiden  Lane,  where  Addison  and 

VOL.  I.  5 


LIFK  or    LOitU  CAMI'IIKIJ.. 


[1M02. 


Av/it\  iimhI  to  riiiioku  their  |ii|K>H,  rt<iimiiic«l  tlici'u  till  two  with 
riomc  friciiilH,  ii'ttinicd  to  Liiiniln'H  Inn,  niadi'  nu>  Monu>  t«'ii, 
packed  up  u\y  |Nirtnmnte(ui,  and  read  the'Terni  I{e|M>rtr«'  till 
near  four.  I  |HD4r«ed  tlu;  night  very  pleasantly,  uid)'  I  wa^ 
strongly  reinindtHl  oC  the  night  U'tore  (icorge  left  nie  for  I'ortM- 
inouth,  whieh  we  H|K'nt  Honiewhat  in  the  siuuc  way.  In  runi- 
niuging  my  writing-(h>Hk  I  made  an  agreeahle  diMiivery.  In  an 
old  |MM;ket-lNM)k  given  me  l>y  Mvt<.  Dott  many  yearH  ago  I  found 
^12  ill  Ikink  of  Kngland  imfe^.  Kven  now  I  have  no  idea 
when  or  how  the  money  gn.  there.  My  go<Ml  angel,  I  Hup|MM4', 
approving  of  my  Continental  exeurnictn,  had  ><lily  slip|M>d  it  in. 
I  left  my  keyM  with  the  {Mtrter  to  give  to  my  laiindreHH,  uiid 
proeeeiled  to  I'ieeadilly  with  my  portmanteau  on  my  nhouhler. 
The  morning  wiu*  delightful.  I  rejoiced  to  tind  that  my  com- 
paffnorm  ue  voyaye  were  almont  all  Freiieh.  We  w«*re  immedi- 
ately 08  intimate  ixn  if  we  luul  lM>eu  aecpiainted  for  twenty  yearH. 
Six  went  inHide  and  eight  out.  A  few  dropH  of  rain  fell,  hut 
only  enough  to  make  uh  feel  tlu!  HneneHH  of  the  weather  more 
exquisitely.  We  <'hangod  horneH  at  Diirtford  and  hreakfoMttHl  at 
Rochester.  A  dinner  wan  prepare<l  for  iw  at  C'ant<'rhury,  but  it 
WOH  8o  Hcunty  and  ho  bad  that  we  would  not  t«)ii<-h  it.  I  employed 
an  hour  viewing  the  Cathedral,  the  nhrine  of  ThonuiH  A  B<H'ket, 
and  the  other  curiosities  of  this  celebrated  place.  \\m  did  not 
arrive  at  Dover  lM'fon>  nine,  and  then  we  found  it  so  crowded 
with  pawfw'iigers  that  it  was  with  the  grejitest  difliirulty  we  could 
gain  atlmitwion  into  an  inn.  Nevertheless  we  su(!c<'tHletl  in  getting 
a  tolerable  supper.  Having  drunk  a  tumbler  of  }>unch  I  tumbled 
into  IxhI  and  slept  well  till  eight  next  morning.  I  had  Ikm'ii 
through  the  castle  and  ltK)ked  over  Shakespeare's  clitt'  the  autumn 
before.  I  therefore  went  diri'ctly  to  the  bathing  place,  stripiMxl, 
and  swam  about  in  the  sea  a  full  hour.  After  breakfast  we  had 
to  go  to  the  Custom  PTouse,  where  we  luul  a  great  deal  of  trouble 
and  paid  a  great  deal  of  money.  I  had  nothing  about  me  con- 
traband except  about  twenty-five  guinejis.*     I  ha<l  some  appre- 


*Ab  the  law  tliRn  stood,  to  eiport  the  coined  money  of  the  realm  subjected 
the  culprit  to  a  penalty  as  well  as  forfeiture  of  the  money. 


IHO'J.J 


DAV    AT  CALAIll. 


99 


li('ti.Hit)ii.<4,  [)Ut  my  iHickotit  wow  not  rtcurcluHl,  It  wuh  ouu  u'ulonk 
iM't'oi't'  \vi!  ^ot  on  iNNinl.  Tlu>ru  wfiv  now  ulMUit  iWty  of  iirt, 
chictly  Fri'iu'h,  muny  woiiicii.  I  iinmiHliutrly  lM>(pin  to  JuhlMT 
with  tlicni,  and  Hucttt'ctliHl  to  luliiiirutioii.  Wit  hiul  not  |)riM)it><litl 
two  inil(>!4  when  thi;  wind  fell  coniiih^ti'ly.  Foi*  M'voml  honnt  w» 
lorit  ground,  iM'in^  (uirritHl  down  the  ( 'hanni'l  l>y  th«>  lido.  I  hud 
niud(>  up  my  mind  to  ronutinin^  on  the  .S4>a  one  ni^ht  iit  Ii'iwt. 
Huwuvvr  ubout  six  (M-ltM'k  ii  gulc*  HpituiK  u|»  and  wi;  Ix'tJitut  tu 
uppriHioh  thu  Frt'Uiih  c^NiMt.  liUckily  I  hud  pntvuilvd  u|M>n  two 
or  thitKi  Friiuchnu  ti  to  join  mo  in  huyinp;  u  log  of  cold  rouat 
lunil)  und  u  iMitth^  )>('  wint>.  We  nmdo  u  most  vx<!t>lK>nt  rt>i»u8t. 
It  wm*  neur  ten  oVI«Mk  iM'fori'  w<!  n-uchud  Culuis.  However  we 
(jot  in  a  few  minutis  Infon'  the  j^ten  were  shut.  Another  gen- 
tleman und  myself  hired  u  guide  who  (•(»ndu(;t(Ml  us  i\  fnnhcrye 
lie  Mani'in'.  Here  I  had  the  mortiKeution  to  lenrn  that  I  must 
wait  a  wliol(>  day  und  nnother  night  ut  Culuis.  We  iK)uid  not  be 
expi>dite«l  hy  the  munieipulity  liefore  eleven,  und  the  diligence 
never  setH  off  Juter  than  five.  However,  to  console  ouraelve  we 
ordered  hh  /niit  muper  fi  la  fiutnctmi'  d  hiw  boiUvHlc.  tie  inn  de 
Boiirr/m/m'.  I  hnd  only  two  eom|>unions  ut  sup|)cr.  We  hod 
fish,  two  <'hi(!kens,  Htewe<l  pigeons,  un  frinantlcau  de  vcau,  a 
ragout,  turkey  with  a  white  sau(!e,  und  live  or  six  kinds  of  vege- 
tables each  dressed  in  a  ditlerent  way.  After  supj)er  we  had  a 
«K'SM(>rt  of  peaches,  plums,  apricots,  &v.  We  moistentHl  our  eluy 
well  with  wineuud  went  to  IkiI.  This  morning  I  rose  by  seven. 
I  wished  much  to  huve  gone  to  Dunkirk,  which  is  but  eight 
leagues  otf,  but  I  could  not  get  my  passport  till  it  wus  t(H)  lute 
I  was  obligcjl  to  content  mysitlt'  with  seeing  the  Ibrtifieutions, 
cliurclus,  and  anti<}uitics  of  this  place.  I  met  with  numy 
rcniiiins  ut'  flic  Knglisli.  A  iii;iniiiti(vnl  rectangle  erected  by 
Edward  III.  for  a  wool  staple  is  still  entire.  At  eleven  w(r 
were  obligwl  to  go  before  Mangot  the  prefiiet  tt>  show  our  paas- 
ports.  I  spent  an  hcmr  or  two  in  bathing  and  walking  to  the 
Bas'H!  Ville.  At  one  T  went  to  the  Hotel  I'Angleterro,  formerly 
kept  by  Deasin,  so  famous  fnjm  Sterne's  Sentimental  Journey. 
Here  I  saw  Lord  Cholmomlelev  set  off  in  four  (touches  and 


100 


LIFK  or   l/)IU>  CAUVnKLh. 


[1803. 


■ix,  and  otlicn  arrivo  in  i>(|unl  ntylc.  Ik'twecn  two  ami  thrco  I 
plarvd  myHcIf  at  Quillianj'N  tabU  d'fuitf,  in  c<<)m|«ny  with — 
whom  tlo  you  think? — Arthur  O'Connor.*  I  coulil  not  hflp 
fi>t>liug  the  moHt  lively  int^ri'Mt  in  him — ani>xili>  from  Inn  country, 
hnving  it  every  hour  lK>iort>  hiM  lycM!  Iliii  Hgure  iit  nioiit  elo- 
ifMit,  and  IiIm  (mv  \h  t\u>  very  |iii<tutt>  of  phihmophlc  melancholy. 
Thuii){h  I  iiMiimiMcrati'  IiIm  fate,  you  will  not  mu|>|m)m>  that  I 
approve  of  hiHconduet.  I  noL  only  detect  hit*  priiu'ipleM  and  hin 
plauH,  hut  I  denpiM'  the  <*()wai'di<>e  with  which  he  lN'truy(><l  him- 
ielf  and  IiIh  friendH.  I  had  Home  ciMivernation  with  him,  hut 
without  profcfwin^  to  know  him.  There  were  alMiut  twenty  at 
dinner,  from  all  the  countrii  h  of  F.uro|M!,  We  had  vermicttlli 
Noup,  Hcvend  kindn  of  fish,  wveml  roaxt(><|  jointx,  fowln,  pi^etmH, 
]MirtridgeM,  n  culf 'h  head  dreHM>d  in  a  ntyleof  which  you  ctui  have 
no  conception,  every  kind  of  vegetable,  a  melon,  which  Mouimctr 
vutM  with  hirt  meat  like  p<>tat<H>H,  and  two  or  tliree  puddin^^  and 
turtH.  AtU'r  an  cle^^ant  de^mTt  we  htui  (^ofTet*  and  li()ueur.  A 
bottle  of  wine  and  u  lH>ttlu  of  water  Ih  put  down  for  every  (rover. 
My  hill  aniountc<l  only  to  'in. ;  I  do  not  think  I  could  have  an 
much  in  liondon  for  40m.  TIuh  inn  Ih  ho  npuciouH  that  it  con- 
taint*  a  lurj^e  theatre,  and  I  agice<l  to  accompany  a  party  il  la 
eomidlf.  I  wuH  much  plciwcfl  with  th(<  |M>rformunce.  In  thcatri- 
ml  representations  the  French  arc  infinitely  our  HU|)eriors.  In 
this  iH>tty  provini'ial  town,  not  more  populous  than  (\ipur  Fife, 
there  is  always  a  compiuiy  of  comedians,  and  wiverui  of  the 
actoi-s  have  j^rcat  merit.  They  act  thrice  a  week,  but  (ixcept  on 
Sunday  night  they  never  have  a  full  house.  The  adniiKsion  to 
the  boxes  is  only  trcule  noun  or  10^/.  The  piece  finished  iM'foro 
nine.  I  had  very  great  diHiciilty  in  getting  back,  »h  there  is  not 
u  lamp  in  all  Calais.  I  fouml  the  Jil/c  dr  chiimbir  hhowing  my 
fellow-travellers  to  their  apartments,  and  after  debating  with 
myself  a  long  while  how  1  should  (ill  an  hcmrand  a  half,  I  took 


•Arthur  O'Connor  wm  tried  for  high  treason  »n<l  acquitted,  Juno,  1798. 
Uu  was  ai'ieHtt'd  again  on  another  charge,  hut,  with  other  Irish  rebels,  per- 
niitt'Ml  to  leave  England  in  conNiileriition  of  liuving  given  important  informa- 
tion to  Qoverninent  in  the  funie  your  — Ed. 


1MJ9.] 


VTAim  POR  PARm. 


101 


out  my  writing  itn|»l(>niiMitM  nii<l  wit  down  ii|N»n  tho  imt  whit^h  I 
now  iMxuipy.  I  |)n>ti*Mt  I  uiii  iiltitKi'thir  ignorant  whnther  thin 
Journul  will  liavi'  any  inlcriMt  tor  y«»n.  I  (<onHn»  uiyM'it'  to  r«i!tji. 
My  n'flit'tionit  wouM  till  voliinii>M.  Am  yet  I  hnvn  Miifl«*n<(i  no 
diinp|)ointin(*nt — my  (•x|MH'tiitlon  Iiiim  Ini'ii  i<x<'«<«><ltHl.  My  «>x|N>nwi 
\$  cnormoiiM,  luul  f  niilly  do  not  know  that  I  am  juMtitli*d  in 
throwing  nwuy  Huch  muiuh.  i'hiM  day  I  havi^  H|M>nt  mm  mu<>h  mm 
in  lorninr  tinitw  would  hav«>  maintaim-d  iho  wholo  tamily  a 
month.  It  in  not  what  I  oat  and  drink  that  ttwtM  w>  niurh,  hut 
thori)  ant  ten  thouHand  |h>o|>I('  who  have  dcniandit  u|Nm  you. 
However  I  tnwt  that  I  ni-iMvc  two  mw  iihtw  for  ovi'ry  unu 
whif'h  I  N|N>nd,  and  that  \n  not  a  loHJny;  iHU'gain.  I  hnvo  Jiutt 
now  a  lM>ttto  oC  <'lan>t  ntanding  hy  m<<  whi«!.  I  drink  out  oC  a 
tund)l<>r.  It  giHW  h«'n!  nndrr  tin-  naini>  of  irin  nrdiunirc  or 
rdturier,  and  m>Ilri  for  '2i)>l.  a  lM>ttl)'  whi<>h  hrddH  a  full  quart. 
All  over  thiit  part  of  Fran<!<«  thiM  rin  ifr  iionlftinr  in  \\mh\  oa 
Hmall  lH>cr.  Still  I  would  rather  live  on  nnint  Ix'ef  and  a  |K)tuto 
with  a  pint  of  porter  in  Knglan<l,  where  I  can  Nay  or  do  what  I 
pleaM!  HO  that  I  do  not  violate  just  and  etpial  lawH.  Ilowi.ver, 
OM  tar  iw  I  have  m>eu,  the  French  arc  (piite  wn  happy  om  their 
nei}^hlM)rH  on  the  oppo,Hite  shore.  The  lower  ortlcrn  arc  nnjch 
b(>tter  UHcd,  and  are  niuch  more  intelligent.  The  waiters  often 
mix  in  tlu;  conversation,  and  Immip  their  part  in  it  well.  Hut  I 
will  not  pretend  as  yet  t<»  speak  of  a  iM'o|)le  of  whom  I  havert(>cn 
HO  little.  We  Met  off  to-morrow  morninjj;  at  tive  o'chxik,  and 
ren«'h  I'aris  I  iM'lieveon  Friday  mornlnji;.  TluMlilij^eiH-*^  here  in 
the  moHt  clumsy,  ill-l>uilt  machine  it  is  i><Ksilili>  for  a  perv(!rto<l 
imagination  tt>  «'oiiccivc.  The  windows  arc  not  larger  than 
pigeon-holes.  I  thank  (io<l  I  am  in  the  mhrioft't,  which  is  vpiy 
(xmimoilious  and  has  I'urlains  to  protwt  you  from  the  wet.  I 
have  refused  several  olll'l-s  of  an  inside  place  in  exchange.  T 
believe  we  never  ;;o  to  hed  the  whole  way,  the  <liligcnce  not 
going  fa.Hter  than  four  miles  an  hour.  T  intend  to  lodge  in  the 
Hotel  de  Pari.s,  ll\u>  de  la  Fioi,  hut  you  will  address  me  at  Per-, 
rigaux'.  My  love  to  my  dear  sistei-s.  My  att'eetion  for  you  all 
rifles  as  I  remove  to  a  distance  from  you. 

Your  afli'ctionatc  Hon,        J.  0. 


102 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1802. 


You  must  excuse  inc  from  rctuling  what  I  have  written. 
Captain  King,  the  master  of  the  pac^ket,  has  promisotl  to  put  the 
letter  into  the  post-office  at  Dover. 

;>  Il6tt'l  do  Paris,  Kuu  do  la  Loi,  Paiin, 

Soptembor  8, 1802,  (21  Fructidor,  Yoar  X  ) 

My  i>eau  Father  : — I  have  Imjch  in  the  daily  expectation 
of  hearing  from  you  for  a  week  past,  but  no  letter  of  yours  has 
yet  appeared.  I  am  sure  you  would  write  to  me  if  all  was  well, 
but  in  so  long  a  route  your  letters  may  have  raiscju'rie<l.  Do 
not  youi-self  be  unea.sy  on  reading  this,  sis  I  shall  make  more 
particular  inquiries  at  Perrigaux'  and  may  not  unlikely  be  soon 
blessed  with  good  accounts  of  you.  1  should  in  that  case  be  com- 
pletely happy.  With  all  my  anxiety  the  last  fortnight  has  been 
almost  the  brightest  in  my  life.  I  dare  say  you  would  see  that 
my  expectations  were  high — 1  assure  you  the  reality  hits  sur- 
passed them.  1  have  been  luxuriating  amidst  .all  kinds  of  enjoy- 
ments. It  would  be  easier  for  me  to  write  a  volume  than  a 
letter,  but  I  must  try  to  give  you  some  notion  of  what  has 
befallen  me  sin(!e  my  last.  1  think  I  took  leave  of  you  late  on 
Tuesday  night  sitting  by  a  bottle  of  Burgundy  in  the  *  Lioiinc 
d' Argent '  at  Calais.  1  was  awoke  next  morning  at  half-past 
four,  and  in  a  few  minutes  after  I  was  seated  in  the  cabriolet  of 
our  mesaagerle.  I  had  for  my  companions  a  French  emigrant 
returning  to  his  native  country,  a  very  intelligent  and  agretuble 
man  and  Moimrur  Ic  eoudui'tciw,  a  fellow  who  su'companies  the 
coach  the  whole  way  and  directs  all  its  nutvements.  lie  had  an 
immense  share  of  humor  and  kept  us  (constantly  in  a  roar.  Till 
you  get  up  to  a  certain  rank,  the  Frencii  are  infinitely  better 
educated  and  better  informed  than  the  English.  We  breakfasted 
(I  should  have  said  we  dined,  though  it  was  but  eleven  o'clock) 
at  Boulogne,  and  I  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  the  scene 
of  Lord  Nelson's  unfortunate  attiick.  We  had  some  rrfresh- 
,ment  at  Montreuil,  and  arrived  about  midnight  at  Abbeville, 
where  we  had  an  excellent  supper.  We  breakfasted  next  morn- 
ing at  Amiens.     Here  we  stopped  near  two  hours,  and  I  had 


1802.] 


A1MUVKH    IN    PARIS. 


103 


time  to  visit  the  cclohratiHl  ('atluHlral,  the  hull  whore  the  treaty 
of  pea(;e  was  signed  l)y  I^ord  Cornwallis  and  Joseph  Bonaparte, 
<&c.,  Had  I  been  set  down  in  liOndon  at  the  end  of  this  jour- 
ney, I  should  have  remembered  even  the  minutest  particular  of 
it;  but  having  seen  so  mm^h  simie,  it  is  almost  completely  effaced 
from  my  recolletition.  Where  we  dined  I  cannot  inform  you,  or 
whether  we  had  any  dinner  at  all.  Between  one  and  two  on 
Friday  morning  we  supped  at  Clermont.  This  night  I  slept  so 
sound  that  I  was  not  sensible  when  Ave  stopped  to  change  horse-. 
I  believe  I  could  sleep  upon  a  cannon  in  a  field  of  battle.  A 
more  unfavorable  situation  you  cannot  well  conceive  than  the 
cahriold.  The  roads  within  seventy  miles  of  Paris  are  all  cause- 
wayed, the  coach  was  most  uneasily  hung,  the  foot-board  was 
not  upon  the  spring  at  all ;  instead  of  Ixjing  allowed  to  recline, 
I  could  not  sit  erect.  I  think  we  breakfasted  at  Chantilly,  the 
famous  place  which  belonged  to  the  Comte  d'Artois.  About  ten 
we  entered  Paris  by  the  Barriftre  St.  Martin.  We  alighted  in 
the  Rue  du  Bouloy.  I  confess  I  was  a  good  deal  fatigued ;  still 
I  felt  the  liveliest  enthusiasm.  One  of  my  fellow  travellers 
carried  me  to  the  Hotel  de  la  Chancellerle,  but  I  did  not  like  it, 
and  I  immediately  removed  to  the  place  where  now  I  am.  Um-i- 
I  found  everything  to  my  mind.  Perhaps  you  have  not  a  proper 
conception  of  a  French  hotel.  It  is  not  an  inn  or  a  tavern. 
They  frequently  cannot  even  furnish  you  Avith  a  breakfast.  It 
resembles  nothing  so  much  as  St.  Salvator's  College  at  St. 
Andrews.  Every  suite  of  rooms  forms  a  kind  of  tenement  by 
itself,  of  which  the  occupant  is  the  undisturbed  master.  You 
keep  the  key  yourself  and  no  one  ever  enters  except  tho.  frotteur. 
I  contented  myself  with  a  single  room  au  troklhne,  which  I 
hired  for  fifteen  francs  (twelve  and  sixjience)  a  week.  This  is  a 
most  admirable  apartment,  spacious,  high  in  the  ceiling,  and 
elegantly  furnishetl.  The  French  think  as  little  of  a  bed  being 
in  the  room  as  the  Scots  used  to  do,  and  I  might  here  receive 
pereons  of  the  first  distinction  and  of  both  sexes. 

For  five  days  I  never  met  one  individual  to  whom  I  had  ever 
spoken.     Two  particular  friends  of  mine  left  London  for  Paris 


lifer 


104 


LIFK  OF   liORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1802. 


the  same  day  with  myself  by  a  different  route.  They  had 
arrived  before  me,  but  through  mmc  misundcrstaiuling  wo  never 
rencountered.  Those  for  whom  I  had  letters  luwl  all  gone  into 
the  country.  However  I  did  not  much  mind  j  I  resolved  to  mm 
everything  that  was  to  be  seen,  and  to  return  immediately. 
Accordingly  from  eight  in  the  njorning  till  twelve  at  night  I 
was  visiting  churches  and  museums  and  libraries  and  theatres 
and  gardens.  The  whole  of  Sunday  i  was  at  Versailles.  Per- 
haps you  might  see  something  I  wrote  about  Vorsjiilles  in  the 
'Chronicle.'  On  Wednesday,  while  I  was  <lcliberating  with 
myself  what  conveyance  I  should  choose  in  going  to  Dieppe,  I 
had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  Mr.  Todd  and  Dr.  Fleming.  The 
gallery  of  the  Louvre  was  shut,  l)ut  they  obtained  a  carte 
of  entrance  from  the  Minister  of  the  Interior.  We  all  went 
together  and  remained  gazing  at  the  pic^turcs  and  statues  for  five 
or  six  hours.  We  saw  the  *  TransHgiu'ation '  by  Raphael  and 
several  other  pieces  that  have  never  yet  l)een  shown  to  the 
public.  .  .  . 

On  Thursday  I  saw  the  little  Corsican !  I  was  at  one  time 
close  by  his  side,  and  might  easily  have  rendered  my  name 
immortal.  I  had  this  day  the  good  fortune  to  meet  a  man  who 
has  been  of  very  great  use  to  me.  He  is  perhaps  one  of  the 
most  extraordinary  characters  in  Euroj)e.  He  is  a  Portuguese 
Jew,  born  in  England,  who  has  been  in  evciy  country.  He 
knows  every  mortal  in  Paris.  He  has  introduced  me  to  Tallien 
and  Bari'iire,  and  would  have  introduced  me  to  Si6y6s,  Carnot, 
&c.,  had  they  been  in  town.  He  has  taken  me  to  rehearsals  at 
the  theatres  and  shown  me  the  Paris  green  rooms.  He  has 
brought  me  into  the  society  of  authors,  players,  Mamelukes  and 
ci-devant  Consuls  of  the  Roman  Republic.  Our  visit  to  Tallien 
was  a  veiy  curious  one.  We  talked  very  coolly  with  him  con- 
cerning the  massacres  of  September,  but  nothing  astonished  me 
so  much  Jis  the  conversation  that  took  place  concerning  his  wife. 
You  know  she  divorced  him  and  has  since  lived  with  a  variety 
of  other  men.  Yet  he  talked  of  her  beauty,  of  her  wit,  of  her 
amiable  raannei's,  of  having  been  calling  upon  her,  and  of  doing 


t 


1802.] 


LETTER  FROM  THE  HAGUE. 


105 


lier  the  pleasure  to  introduce  tuc  tu  her  actiuaintance.  There  are 
many  things  here  to  make  a  Scotsman  stare !  .  .  . 

I  leave  Paris  on  Friday  morning  for  Brussels.  Such  an 
opportunity  as  the  present  may  not  soon  recur,  an  t  I  am  deter- 
tc  see  as  nmch  as  I  can.  From  Brussels  I  intend  to  proceed  to 
Antwerp  imd  thence  to  Rotterdam.  My  passport  from  I^ord 
Hawkesbury  was  only  for  France,  but  I  have  got  another  from 
Mr.  Merry  which  will  enable  me  now  to  go  into  Holland.  I 
shall  probably  visit  Leyden,  Amsterdam  and  the  Hague,  and 
return  to  England  by  Helvoet-Sluys. 

I  trust  tliat  upon  my  return  to  London  I  shall  resume  the 
study  of  the  law  with  fresh  ardor.  I  think  my  time  in  the 
meanwhile  has  been  as  well  employed  as  if  I  had  spent  six  hours 
a  day  in  reiiding  Coke  or  drawing  declarations.  I  do  not  think 
that  this  coui*se  of  dissipation  will  derange  my  habits  of  industry. 
My  mind  had  need  of  some  recreation.  Being  constantly  occu- 
pied with  the  same  subjects,  it  had  lost  its  elasticity.  I  am  now 
fit  for  anything.  My  tenderest  love  to  my  dear  sisters — Jess, 
Jane,  Eliza,  Lindsay,  and  Magdalen.  This  journey  has  increased 
my  longing  to  see  you.  Before  the  earth  has  made  another 
revolution  I  hope  to  be  in  your  arms.  August  will  soon  return, 
winter  is  at  hand,  then  comes  the  new  year,  the  potatoes  are 
planted,  the  sacraments  begin,  your  own  occasion  m'rives,  a 

young  inan  rushes  into  the  room — it  is 

Jack.    ! 

Tell  Eliza  that  the  very  bairns  here  speak  French !  , 

The  Hngue,  eieptetnber  17, 1802. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  expect  in  a  few  days  to  be  once  more 
in  England,  but  you  may  be  becoming  impatient  to  hear  from 
mo,  and  you  may  be  sooner  informed  of  my  welfare  if  I  write 
you  a  few  lines  from  this  \t\i\QQ.  I  quitted  Paris  nithcr  abruptly. 
Perhaps  I  was  in  no  great  danger,  but  even  now  I  think  it  was 
prudent  in  me  to  withdraw.  On  Wednesday  the  8th  I  carried 
three  letters  to  the  Post  Office — one  for  you,  one  for  Spankie,  and 
one  for  Tom  Duncan.     From  various  little  eircumstances  I  was 


106 


1.1FE  OF  1X)KU  CAMPHKIih. 


[1802. 


ii 


oonviuccil  that  they  were  laid  usido  to  l)c  road  at  Foiuhf'ti  office. 
Through  my  strange  indiscretion  in  dating  them  from  the  H6tel 
de  Paris  and  calling  you  '  Father/  the  name  and  place  of  abode 
of  the  writer  must  have  been  perfectly  well  ascertained.  In 
about  half-an-hour  after  I  heard  of  the  Pfince  dc  Bouillon  and 
several  others  being  arrested,  and  some  friends  with  whom  I 
conversed  increased  my  panic.  I  could  scarcely  take  courage  to 
return  to  tlie  Hotel,  expecting  that  the  police  officers  would  be 
awaiting  my  arrival.  However  I  went  home,  orderetl  in  some 
linen  from  the  washerwoman,  and  gave  notice  that  I  was  to 
leave  Paris  at  seven  o'clock.  At  seven  I  got  into  a  fiacre, 
made  a  great  many  ditours,  and  at  last  alighted  in  the  Boulevard 
Montmartre.  From  that  I  took  a  circuitous  route  to  a  house  in 
the  neighborhood  belonging  to  a  friend  who  had  offeretl  me  an 
asylum.  About  half-past  three  next  morning  I  went  to  the  coach 
office ;  all  the  places  were  taken,  both  inside  and  in  the  cabriolet. 
I  would  not  liave  stayed  another  day  in  Paris  for  the  world  and, 
although  it  then  rained  very  Ivavily,  I  resolved  to  travel  on  the 
imperial.  My  impatience  to  be  gone  was  so  visible  that  I  was 
obliged  to  pay  as  much  us  if  I  had  had  the  best  seat  in  the  dili- 
gence. Just  as  I  was  mounting,  an  ill-looking  fellow  came  in 
and  looketi  over  the  names  of  the  pasHcngers  who  were  going  to 
Calais.  A  thousand  things  alarmed  me  as  we  passed  through 
the  streets.  At  last  1  got  without  the  barrib'e,  and  I  never  was 
happier  in  all  my  life.  To  have  been  imprisoned  for  writing 
freely  to  my  private  friends  I  should  not  have  minded,  but  that 
it  should  have  been  stated  here  that  I  was  lying  in  the  Temple 
for  writing  against  the  French  Government  in  a  newspaper! 
Had  I  not  been  deported  to  Cayenrta  by  Bonaparte,  I  certainly 
should  have  exiled  myself  to  some  distant  country.* 

Lincoln's  Inn,  September  28, 1802. 

My  dear  Father: — I  hope  you  had  no  apprehensions  of 
finding  this  dated  from  a  state  prison.    If  the  Chief  Consul  had 


*The  letter  is  to  be  found  in  the  Morning  Chronicle  of  September  1 1.  18()i'. 
It  denounces  the  arbitrary  and  tyrannical  acts  of  the  French  Goveinmpiit. 
—Ed. 


1802.] 


RETURN  TO  LONDON. 


107 


any  dcHigiiH  uguiiiHt  mv,  I  have  completely  outwitted  him.  In 
Holland  I  wiw  certainly  still  in  his  power,  but,  thunk  Go<l,  T 
have  l>een  in  a  land  of  law  and  liberty  for  nearly  ten  days.  .  .  . 
From  Helvoet-Sluys  we  set  sail  about  five  in  the  afternoon  of 
Saturday  tlu;  18th  of  September.  The  water  wan  as  smooth  as 
a  milldam,  and  we  never  shifted  a  sail  till  we  came  in  sight  of 
Orl'ord  Ness,  where  we  made  the  land  next  day  about  two 
o'clock.  At  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Iliirwich  we  had  a 
striking  instance  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  elements.  The  pas- 
senge  "s  were  preparing  to  go  on  shore,  when  from  one  of  tlie 
clearest  skies  I  ever  saw,  in  a  few  minutes  we  were  involved  in 
so  thick  a  fog  that,  as  the  8ailoi*s  say,  it  was  impossible  to  see 
from  stem  to  stern.  The  harbor  is  uncommonly  difficult,  and 
orders  were  given  to  let  go  the  anchor.  But  the  fog  cleared 
away  as  suddenly  and  as  unexpectedly  as  it  had  come  on.  After 
the  Custom  House  officers  had  visited  us  on  board,  I  was  allowe<l 
to  land.  I  had  much  trouble  and  some  expense  in  getting  my 
portmanteau  searched,  as  it  was  Sunday  evening.  I  was  in  hopes 
of  getting  up  to  London  before  morning,  but  I  found  that  the 
coach  is  laid  aside,  and  that  the  mail  is  conveyed  in  a  small  cart. 
I  thus  found  it  necessary  to  remain  at  Harwich  all  night.  The 
townspeople  are  very  religious  and  were  now  going  to  the  even- 
ing service.  I  went  to  church,  and  thanked  God  with  unfeigneti 
devotion  for  having  brought  me  once  more  in  safety  to  my  na- 
tive land.  I  had  certainly  much  reason  to  be  grateful.  I  hud 
enjoyed  during  several  weeks  a  larger  portion  of  pleasure  tlian 
is  often  comprised  in  such  a  period.  I  had  no  disagreeabh^  sen- 
sations to  prevent  me  from  looking  back  upon  my  excursion  with 
unmixed  satisfaction.  I  consider  it  a  very  fortunate  thing  that 
I  returned  by  Holland.  To  go  to  Paris  is  now  little  more  than 
to  go  to  Edmonton,  but  then  to  have  l)eeii  at  Brussels,  and 
Antwerp,  and  the  Hague!  I  came  from  Harwich  outside  the 
coach.  The  day  was  most  heavenly.  In  the  coui'se  of  my  trav- 
els I  saw  nothing  so  fine  as  the  banks  of  the  Stour  from  Harwich 
to  Manningtree.  We  breakfasted  at  Colchester,  passed  through 
Chelmsford,  dined  at  Ingatestone,  and  were  set  down  about  seven 


108 


l.ll'K  OK    I.Oltl)  f'AMI'HELL. 


[1802. 


! 


in  the  evening  at  the  'Spreud  Eugle'  in  Graccchurch  Street.  I 
got  a  most  horrid  cold  from  travelling  on  the  outflide  of  the 
French  diligence,  which  was  aggravated  by  the  damp  IkkIh  I  met 
with  in  Flolland,  but  it  has  now  complotely  left  me.  T  have  lost 
a  little  flesh,  but  no  strength.  TTad  1  breathed  mueh  longer  the 
corrupting  air  of  Paris,  I  fear  all  my  habits  M'ould  have  been 
deranged;  but  I  axn  still  «line  contentedly  on  Iwef  and  greens, 
and  return  home  in  the  evening  to  read  the  Term  Reports.  I 
was  not  away  long  enough  to  make  any  ae(piircnientH.  1  had 
a  master  in  Paris,  but  in  speaking  French  I  am  still  shamefully 
defective.  Before  I  close  my  letter,  I  will  inform  you  of  a  fact 
more  remai'kable  than  any  I  have  yet  stated.  This  morning  I 
gave  my  opinion  upon  the  construction  of  a  will.  1  had  no  fee; 
but  my  client  is  an  injured  widow. 

LincolnV  Inn,  November  6, 1802. 

Deab  Geouoe  : —  ...  It  is  impossible  to  say  whether  we 
oi-e  at  pciicc  or  war.  Andreossy,  the  French  ambassador,  landed 
at  Dover  on  Thursday  eveninj;-,  and  arrived  in  London  this 
morning.  But  the  general  opinion  is  that  Bonaparte  has  only 
sent  him  over  to  embarrass  us.  'J'hcre  are  many  important  points 
still  unsettled  between  the  two  (iroverunients,  and  orders  have 
been  sent  out  to  retain  Malta  and  the  Cape.  The  conduct  t)f 
Bonaparte  luw  been  most  perfidious,  and  he  draws  down  upon 
himself  the  execration  of  all  miinkind.  Parliament  meets  in 
about  ten  days,  and  it  is  expected  that  some  very  interesting 
business  will  immediately  come  on.  Thank  Gotl,  I  am  not  a 
member  of  the  present  Parliament.  I  find  the  King's  Bench 
disagreeable  enough.  This  is  now  the  third  year  that  I  have 
attended  constantly,  but  dabit  Dcun  his  quoquc  fincm.  Whatever 
becomes  of  me,  Go<l  bless  my  dear  brother. 

[As  my  father  did  not  re[)ort  in  the  House  of  Commons  after 
the  session  ending  June  28,  1802,  I  here  introduce  from  the 
Autobiograj>hy  his  remarks  on  reporting,  and  also  on  dramatic 
criticism. — Ed.] 


1802.] 


nEMAUKR  OX  nEPoiiTtxn. 


109 


For  three  sesaions  I  contluuod  to  attend  in  the  gallery  of  the 
House  of  Commons  wlien  any  debate  of  importance  waa  expected. 
I  acquired  great  facility  and  couHiderablo  skill  in  reporting,  and 
the  Ix'st  speakers  wore  a«Hignc<l  to  me.  T  knew  nothing,  and  did 
not  desire  to  know  anything,  of  Hhort-hand.  Short-hand  writers 
are  very  useful  in  taking  down  evidence  as  given  in  a  court  of 
justice,  but  they  arc  wholly  incompetent  to  report  a  gootl  speech. 
They  attend  tf>  words  without  entering  into  the  thoughts  of  the 
speaker.  They  «uinot  by  any  mcaii.s  take  down  at  full  length 
•all  that  is  uttered  by  n  8})caker  of  ordinary  rapidity,  and,  if  they 
did,  they  would  convey  a  very  iniporfoct  notion  of  the  spirit  and 
effect  of  the  speech.  With  the  exception  of  Pitt  the  younger, 
there  probably  never  was;  a  parllamentaiy  debater  in  whose 
language  there  was  not  some  inaccuriu-y,  and  who  did  not  fall 
into  occasional  repetitions.  Those;  are  hardly  perceived  in  the 
rapid  stream  of  extemporaneous  eloquence,  and  are  corrected  and 
remedied  by  the  voice,  the  eye,  the  action  of  him  to  whom  we 
listen ;  but  blazoned  on  a  printed  pag(!  which  we  are  deliberately 
to  peruse,  they  would  offend  and  perplex  us.  If  Pitt  could  have 
been  taken  down  verbatim,,  all  his  sentences,  however  long  and 
involved,  would  have  been  found  complete  and  grammatical,  and 
the  whole  oration  inotlio<Hcal  and  finished,  but  it  would  have 
been  sometimes  stiff  and  cumbrous  and  vapid,  although,  ani- 
mated by  his  deliveiy,  it  had  electrified  the  House.  Nay,  if  he 
himself  had  written  it  for  publication,  it  would  probably  have 
been  much  altcrc  1.  No  man  knew  bettor  the  difference  between 
what  is  permitted  in  9pcaking  and  in  writing.  In  his  letters  to 
the  Duke  of  Grafton,  lately  published,  his  style  is  generally 
pithy  and  sententious,  and  the  long  balanced  periods  which  dis- 
tinguished his  speeches  are  never  to  bo  fi>und.  To  have  a  good 
report  of  a  speech,  the  reporter  must  thoroughly  understand  the 
subject  discussed,  and  be  qualified  to  follow  the  reasoning,  to  feel 
the  patiios,  to  relish  the  wit,  and  to  be  warmed  by  the  eloquence 
of  the  speaker.  He  must  apprehend  the  whole  scope  of  the 
speech,  as  well  as  attend  to  the  happy  phraseology  in  which  the 
ideas  of  the  speaker  are  expressed.     He  should  take  down  notes 


no 


1,1  l"K  (M'    t.Oltl>   CA.MI'HKr.T,. 


[1802. 


in  abhrevluti'd  lonjr-hiiiid  an  rapidly  an  In-  «iin  for  uidn  to  hin 
memory.  Ho  must  tliiMi  rrtin;  to  \m  nMtin,  and,  looking  at  tlicHo, 
recollect  th(!H|)ee<'h  as  it  wax  deliverer*!,  and  j^ive  it  with  all  fidelity, 
point,  ami  M[>irit,  jw  the  speaker  would  write  it  out  if  preparing 
it  for  the  press.  Fi<lelity  is  the  first  an<l  indispensable  recpiisite, 
but  this  does  not  demand  an  exposiu't!  of  inaceuracMCS  and 
repititions. 

[  cannot  iionoeivo  a  more  Improving  exercise  than  this  for  a 
young  man  who  aspires  to  be  an  orator,  it  is  well  to  translate 
tlie  omtions  of  Demostlienes  and  (^'ieero;  but  it  would  be  still 
l)ctter,  if  the  opportunity  existed,  to  report  the  orations  of  a 
Chatham  and  u  Burko. 

The  two  grand  subjects  which  I  lieani  debated  while  thus 
engaged  were  tlie  *Legislati\o  Union  with  Ireland'  and  the 
'Peace  of  Amiens,'  and  these  called  forth  tlie  [>owers  of  such 
men  as  Fox,  Pitt,  Sheridan,  Grey,  Windham,  and  Canning.  I 
think  I  was  most  excited  by  I'itt's  speech  in  defence  of  the  Peace 
of  Amiens,  which  it  was  my  duty  to  report.  I  rememl)er  being 
so  much  carri(Hl  away  by  his  lofty  declamation  that  I  could  not 
hol'l  n;y  pen  with  sufficient  steadiness  to  take  a  note.  But  in 
tliis  i)art  of  the  speech  I  su(!cee(led  the  In'st.  His  ({notation  from 
Virgil,  when  apologising  for  his  acquiesc(!nce  in  a  treaty  with 
Bonaparte  and  the  desertion  of  the  legitimate  dynasty  of  France, 
was  the  finest  piece  of  recitation  I  ever  heard  : 

Me  lifaia  mei«  palerenlur  ducere  vitain 
Anspiciis,  et  sponte  mcd  componere  curat  : 
Urbem  Trojanam  pnmum  diilceixpi''  mem-uiii 
Relliquias  cuierem  Priaini  tecta  alta  manerent, 
Ef,  recidiva  manu  poauissem  Pergama  viclis* 


At  that  time  it  was  usual  for  one  reporter  to  take  the  whole 
of  a  long  speech  extending  to  five  or  six  eolunnisof  a  newspaper. 
Upon  this  he  was  necessarily  employed  a  good  many  hours,  and 
on  the  day  after  a  long  debate  the  publication  of  the  newspaper 
was  delayed  till  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.     But 


*  Virgil,  ^/iei(f,  iv.  340-344. 


m)'2.] 


ItKMAIlKH  ON    I{Kl*OUTING. 


Ill 


(UibiitcM  were  vi-ry  niro,  and  to  tlio  ordiiiiiiy  roiit!ii«:  iMit^iiietM  of 
I'lii'liiitnciit  liiinlly  any  atU'titiuii  was  paid. 

Tieriuty  wan  the  oiiHieflt  to  ro[N>i't  wM,  and  Pitt  the  inoHt  ditli- 
cult.  I  thought  Sheridan  the  tno^t  brilliant  H|H>aker  in  thu 
IIoJifM',  but  the  t'H'eet  of  hin  H[H,'al<ing  was  impaired  by  the  recol- 
k>ction  of  his  private  eharact'-r  and  his  habitH,  now  become  moHt 
ilej^rading;  Iuh  pre[)aration  for  any  great  eiVort  l)eing  a  laboriouH 
eolle(;tion  of  joUen  and  a  JMittlc  of  brandy. 

I  had  nothing  to  do  with  reporting  in  the  LordH.  Very  extra- 
ordinary rulets  then  prevailed  on  thiHHubje(;t  in  that  noble  house, 
ami  they  were  rigidly  enforced.  There  waa  .10  gallery,  and  no 
one  in  bootH  was  allowwl  to  enter  tin"  space  Iwlow  the  Inir.  All 
rttrangers  were  obliged  to  continue  ntanding,  and  the  door-kcei)eni 
were  strictly  enjoined  to  allow  no  one  to  take  notes.  Tlie  re|)ort8 
of  the  procewlings  in  the  liord.s  whi<'h  ap|)caretl  in  the  'Chroni- 
cle,' very  wanty  and  meagre,  were  nuiiplied  by  William  Wooil- 
lall,  th(!  contemporary  of  JuniuM,  now  a  very  old  gentleman, 
dressetl  in  a  suit  of  brown  dittos  with  ajdmon-coloi-ed  silk  stock- 
ings, gold  buckles,  a  tic-wig,  and  an  amber-headed  cane.  lie 
was  gifted  with  an  extraordinary  memory.  Immediately  niter 
prayers  he  took  his  ])ost  at  the  bar,  leaning  over  it,  and  there  he 
remained  till  the  House  adjourned.  He  then  went  home  and 
wrote  his  report,  which  he  sent  to  the  printing-office.  The  Lords 
were  punished  for  their  absurd  regulations  by  a  very  vapid  and 
l»ointless  ac^count  of  their  si)et!ehes. 

Wocnlfall,  although  a  bad  reporter,  was  very  entertaining  in 
conversation.  He  hiul  known  all  the  great  political  and  literary 
characters  who  had  flourished  from  the  commencement  of  the 
reign  of  George  III.,  and  he  was  full  of  anecdotes  respecting 
them.  He  gave  a  very  anmsing  account  of  the  oratorical  pro- 
gress of  Sheridan,  whom  he  represented  at  his  outset  so  hope- 
lessly bad  a  spetiker  that  he  advised  him  to  think  of  Parliament 
no  more  and  to  stick  to  the  drama.  The  future  accuser  of  Iljist- 
ings,  however,  would  persevere  and,  talking  resolutely  on  turn- 
pike bills  and  petitions  for  vestry  acts,  he  acquired  the  powers 
he  displayed  in  his  speech  on  the  Begum  eliarge,  which  is  said  to 


112 


LI»'K  or   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1802. 


Im  uiit'ivitllcd  in  iiKMlcrii  onitor)-,  uiid  w\\\v\\  liml  llu*  Hitt^ular 
colli plinu'iit  of  (iiiiHiii^  an  mljoiirnini'iit  of  the  IIt)iii>'<>,  id*  the 
invnilMi-H  itmU\  not  trnnt  lli(>nii«4>lvc>H  to  conitt  to  n  i'atr  dniMioii 
inini<'<liatt'ly  alter  hearing  it. 

Sheridan  in  reveiijje  iimihI  to  laiij,»h  at  the  poinjMwity  of  Woo«I- 
fall,  and  rehitcd  how  he  nad  this  i)arap;ra])h  in  the'Morniii); 
Chronieh''  wliiUi  Woodfall  wan  the  inlitor:  'IaxhI  night  We 
vinited  Driiry  Lane  'I'heatre,  uhieh  on  lU'coiint  of  the  new  phiy 
waM  <'X(!ee<linf5ly  erow«h'd.  When  we  eiiteretl  we  were  told  hy 
the  l)ox-kee]M>r  that  in  the  lM>xei4  there  wax  only  one  mvi  niKH-eii- 
|)i(>d,an<l  this  wiiMthe  middle  neat  in  a  row  which  eonJM  only  hohl 
tliree.  UV  took  |H)H.>(e>sHion  of  it  and  kept  it  <Iurin^  tlu  i  veiling, 
though  iiiiieh  Mpiee/ed  by  our  right  and  left  han<l  neighliorH.' 

Curiowity  (tu^ritnl  nic  oo<jwionally  into  the  Houhc  of  Lortln. 
The  most  iiu>moral>le  Hpc  'i  I  heard  wiw  oik;  from  liord  Thiir- 
low,  who  had  h'ou  brought  from  hiw  retreat  by  a  Divorce  liill 
promoted  on  the  p«'titi«>n  of  the  Mile  by  reiiHon  of  the  husband's 
uilultery  with  her  own  sister.  This  wi  i  .)ppoi«Hl  as  being  <'on- 
tniry  to  prc(!0<l(!iit,  the  relief  having  l)een  Idtherto  confiiie<l  to 
the  huwband  for  the  infidelity  of  his  wife.  But  in  this  citsc,  on 
the  ground  that  coixhrnation  by  the  wife  was  inipoasible  and  that 
she  could  no  longer  live  with  her  husband  without  iiiceHt,  Thiir- 
low  manfully  siipiiorted  the  bill  and  it  was  carried.  I  never  on 
any  other  (M;casioii  saw  this  groat  man.  LoughlM)rough*s  brilliant 
parliamentary  career  was  drawing  to  a  close.  1  hav«!  heanl  him 
address  the  House,  but  not  on  any  occasion  aflbrding  an  oppor- 
tunity for  a  display  of  his  force  and  eIo(|uence.  Eldon,  without 
the  powers  of  oratory  which  belong  to  Weddcrburii  but  a  still 
<lcej)er  Intriguer,  (ilutched  the  Great  Seal  from  him,  after  which 
the  ex-Chancellor  sank  into  insigiiillcaiico,  knowing  no  ambition 
but  to  bo  tjiken  notice  of  by  the  King  on  the  terrace  at  Windsor. 

Ijord  Grcnville  was  the  Government  lender  in  the  Lords,  a 
very  sensible,  solid  speaker,  but  monotonous  and  seldom  seizing 
the  attention  or  rousing  the  feelings  of  his  hcarei-s.  lie  had  his 
eyes  fixed  alternately  on  the  floor  nn<l  the  ceiling,  iicvci'  looking 
either  at  friend  or  foe. 


1802.]  DltAMATIC  CKITICISM.  113 

I  Htill  vontiiiiUMl  my  (•tiKtif^cincnt  with  thu '  Morning  Clinmiulo/ 
but  I  now  ttMitlmtl  rnyM>lf  t(»  law  r(>|N)rtiii^.  I  litul  Ikhmi  truiM- 
fvrriHl  to  tliL> ( !(iiirt of  KIii^'h  li<>iiili,tinil  I  r«!t!onlc(l  tli(nl(>uutioM 
of  lionl  Kctiyon  utxl  IiIh  l)ri>tlir<>n.  .  .  . 

I  iMinuiH!  (Iriuniitic  critii^  for  tlir  'Clircitiiclu'  and  uttcmlcd  the 
thcatrt>M  (>v(Ty  tii^^ht.  1  hud  a  fnr  a<hiiiMHioii  to  Covciit  (Jardcii 
and  Diiiry  liUiio  with  the  privilcj^r  of  writin)^  an  onh-r  (nr  a 
frit'tid.  No  OIK*  ill  th<<  prcHciit  diiy  itm  fortii  a  notion  of  tho 
irnportanct'  (hen  iittiu"h«'<l  to  thr  draiuu.  Thu  liour  of  tlinncr 
|)vnnitt(!<l  an  attt'iuhmc*!  at  th«'  HpcHiwh'  in  Im^  followtnl  hy  a  itdit 
«oupi'r;  and  ni^ht  after  iii^ht  fa.>4hioiial)l<>  hidicMand  diHtin^iiiHhed 
HcimtorH  wore  to  Im>  H(><<n  in  the  Hi(h>-lM»X(>ri.  If  a  new  piucc  or  a 
new  |>orfonii«'r  wiw  to  conx!  out,  the  town  waM  in  a  Htatu  of  tho 
greatest  i>x('itoim>nt;  crowdrt  rushed  to  the  tlieutroH,  taking  their 
Htand  at  the  pit-d(M)r  iH^forv  inid-ihiy,  an<l  thiTu  wiw  inteiiHo 
anxiety  to  know  the  renult.  The  estalilishHl  favoritm  of  the 
public  in  the  round  of  their  partti  were  run  after  witli  inereilible 
wigerneHH,  ami  their  HuppoMed  merits  or  <K'feetM  were  Htill  keenly 
cunvaHsed.  Dramatic  (criticism  waM  aeciordingly  very  much 
uttendod  to,  and  thiH  was  a  very  itn|H>rtant  department  of  a 
newspaper.  1  took  };;re.nt  pains  with  my  articiles  on  plays  and 
players.  I  not  only  read  carefully  all  the  piec-es  usually  acted, 
but  I  made  myself  miustor  of  the  history  of  our  stage  from 
Shakesjjcare  downwards,  and  became  fairly  accpiainted  with 
French,  German,  and  Italian  dramatic  literature.  I  never 
acknowletlge<l  myself  (W  a  critic,  but  it  was  pretty  well  known 
from  whom  the  dmmatic  articles  canv,  and  I  sometimes  found 
myself  treated  with  most  unaccountable  dcferen<!c  by  first-rate 
performers  and  poi)ular  dramatists.  The  plaudits  or  hisses  of 
the  audience,  and  overflowing  houses  or  (.'mpty  iM'nches,  certainly 
depended  a  good  deal  on  the  award  of  the  anonymous  critic  of 
the  'Morning  Chronicle.' 

Independently  of  my  duties,  I  should  have  been  delighted 
voluntarily  to  attend  the  theatre  in  those  its  j  alray  (lays.  Mrs. 
Siddons  had  too  much  tjuste  to  apjjcar  in  Juliet  and  other  juvenile 
parts  in  which  she  had  once  been  admired,  but  in  Lady  Macbctli, 

VOL  I.  5* 


114 


l.irr.  itV   iA>UU  (rAMI'MKl.t.. 


[I«0*i. 


I 


I 


111 


ir'' 


Kailit'i-iiir,  iiimI  Lilly  <  'oimtiUMf  >«lii*  \«iim  ii;*  ^mii  iim  hIk-ii 
uimi|iliiiMMit<'«t  hy  l>r.<lo|iiiMHi,iiiMl  iifvt'r  wiim  ilii>ti' n  iiioic ^liikliiK 
(liM|iluy  of  liiiiiiiiM  ^fiiiun.  \Vli<  II  m||)  ifiintl  hIii>  wiin  Miii'(>c(il«>«l  liy 
MIm*  O'Ncil,  wImih4>  >/.'Aii/  I  wiiiK-Msi'tl,  mill  will),  ill  Id  Iviilmi,  loA 

tilt*  ('lll'll|>tlirt'tl  -tlMTtUtor  rolivillri'il  Ini'  ill)'  tiiiir  tliiit  Otwiiy'^ 
r«)lllillllic  ri)|l(i'|itinllH  of  |i)V«<  IIIhI  IriMlirilroi*  llfVlT  Will'  Mi  >\)  II 
illl|N'rHI)||||t<'«l.        To    till'    UIM|N>lllilll>!<>    loMM   ot'    llll'    |llilllilt    ^ll<>    WllA 

MMiii  witliilniwii  liy  her  iimrriii^i*  to  »  iiian  of  tni-tiiii«>.*'  Siii'li 
tiiiitfiti^^is  aru  thi!  ivwani  of  tairtit  iiimI  virtiir,  hiii  llicy  •■niiiiot 
Im!  wlttiitvuil  without  Millie  .siJtiHli  t'i>);i'«'l.  Uy  oiir  of  lliciii, 
iiliortly  iN'I'ori'  my  roiiiiii^  to  town,  I  wim  ili'priviil  of  tlii> 
))l(>UMii'i>  of  (>v(<i' ,Hi>t>iii^  MiHM  Kiirrni  in  LaJy  'INiizIr,  Of  what 
ail  U);(;r(>^at(>  of  |»lraMiiri>  would  the  nation  liavi*  Intii  <l«-|irivi'i| 
if,  at  till!  a^^^'  of  twuitty,  Mfx.  SidilonH  hiul  Inimi  inairicd  to  u 
]MH}r!  And  I  niniiot  help  thinking  that  whin  xlii'  nat  to  Sir 
J()»«hiiu  Krynoldrt  for  lirr  (Htrtrait  a.>«  th<>  Tra^ii-  .Muse,  mIii'  im-cii- 
|)ie<l  u  higher  as  \st<\\  an  a  ha|i|iii'r  |MHition  in  Horii>|y  than  if  mIii> 
hud  biHtn  |ir(!.-ti!iit(>d  at  Court  an  a  v>m\iU'y<n. 

It  WUM  during  my  rritiral  rui^ii  that  there  a|)|H-ured  that 
pheiioiiienon  MaHt<>r  Hetty,  '  the  infant  UoN'iiM.'t  I  iniiHt  eoii- 
fc8H  that  I  wtiH  ont>  of  tho.se  who  eiitlin.sia.slieally  admire<l  him, 
and  who  thought  not  only  that  hin  |M'rformiiiiees  were  wonderful 
for  a  hoy  of  hi.s  yearn,  hut  thai  the  eharaelers  he  iiiidertDok  w«'re 
inoMt  lieautifiilly  portrayiid.  Some  more  fastidious  i-rilies  rather 
thoughl  him  one  of  the  *  M-ry  of  ehildren,  little  eyase^s  that  <.'ry 
out  oil  the  top  of  question,  and  are  most  tyramiinilly  ela|)p«H| 
for  't;'J  but  if  I  eri-ed  i  nee<l  not  Ik.'  ashamed,  for  nij^ht  after 
nijrlit,  as  oftor  us  he  iwted,  there  was  (Jharles  .lames  Knx  in  the 
sUig<:  Ih)x,  hunging  on  the  boy's  lips  aiul  rapturously  ap|>laiiiliiig 
him.  Juhii  Kemble  in  '  Hamlet'  or  '  (/'oriolaiius '  im  doubt  was 
u  Ix'tter  Htudy  for  the  judgment,  but  1  eonfess  he  eould  never  hi> 
|)owerfully  toiieh  in  my  breast  the  ehords  of  terror  and  of  pity. 


*MiHH  O'Neil  in.irrinil  in  1H1»  Mr  William  HoolicrWrixon,  of  Baliygihlin, 
county  Cork,  who  wan  creatod  a  baronot  in  IH.'H. — Burko'H  Pfuraiff.  and 
Baroni-tai/i',  h.  v.  Rechor. — Ed. 

fMoHtor  B.-tty  liv.xl  till  lM7i.— Ed.  , 

X  Hamlet,  ii.  2. 


|M()'2.) 


MfiOm   AM>   Ai'lliK>«N»>t. 


IIA 


•liiliii  I'liliiioi*  tiii«  *f>l«>liniUil  i<iiMit>«liiUi,  \viiM«li'rul  iM'Cortt  I  (<niii<* 
Ui  town;  luiii  \l\m  Kiirnii,  tln«  /hhu  ulhil  nl'  l^uly  Titixlo, 
haviii)^  witli<lmwii  iiitn  CiiMliinimlil)'  I  iff,  I  lirivf  iii>v<*r  wH>n  |{i>n- 
tM'l  Mimi'fly  ill  |M'rfVrtiim  on   Mu'    Kii^lixli  »*hin;«',  Jnr  tlii-y  li«v« 


hiul 


no  >«iin't'w«»r>*,  iimi  to  <i»nn'iv«'  \v 


I  t. 


hill 


MltlV 


Im>   *\ 


oni>  ill  tliiN 


(li-piirtnii'iit  of  till'  tininiii  it  wxv^  nr<i>wmii-y  to  ^o  to  I'lirJM  iiiiil 
wop4lii|i  M<lll)'.  MaiN ;  hut  ill  l)t'«Nul  •■ttniiily  iiiitl  liirii'  the  |M'r- 
toriiD'rM  wnt'  tlirii  i'i|iiiil  to  tlioM*  of  any  ii^i'  or  rotintry— 
Mr*.  Jonlaii,  Miw^  I*o|m',  lii-win,  liaiiniMfcr,  hirky  SiH't. 

I  lM>loiiy;i>«i  t4)  a  <'liil»  of  wliicli  varioi>  n'tot-M  iitul  |ilay-writ(>rM 
wori'  iih'iiiImw,  anti  I  hh*-*!  to  -Mi-  otlicrw  of  n;ii'«'ii-ro(ini  n'piitu- 
tioii  i;t  till'  Ciili'r  Ct'llar  in  Maiili'ii  Lint',  llii'ii  fr«i|ii<>nt(>«l  hy 
iioiiKf  of  till'  inoNt  liiMtin^iiir^lmi  iiu'ti  al>oiit  town.  j'rofi'MMor 
I'orMon,  till'  n'lrl>nUi'<l  (tm'iiin,  wax  naiMtantly  to  Ih'  wi'ii  JM'ri', 
^niokinp;  ami  (Iriiikiii)^  hmiiily  iiiiil  watrr.  Altlion^li  in  a  Ntattt 
of  iiitoxiiiition,  he  f^avi>  incri'ilililc  proofs  of  tlu'  iwtwi'rx  of  hin 


HU'inory. 


I  liav«>  ht'anl  liiin  Ht-Ht  recite  an  iNle  of  I'indar,  and 


then  a  whole  act  of  the  •  Mayor  of  (Jarrett,'  without  ever  Ikmiik 
at  a  li)r(H  for  u  wont.  Ilirt  n>citiitioiH  from  Milton  were  the  niont 
iH'aiitifiil.  [  rt'ineinlN'r  hin  k>^°''iK  ^I"'  Ix'^i'i'ii'iK  "^'  t''<'  thin! 
iMMik  of  '  I'aradiM'   Liwt'  in  u  manner  aetiiallv  to  ejeetrifv  all 


pn 


went.     When  he  came  to  the  wonln- 


But  tliou 


ReipiiMit'Bt  nut  thnxii  <>yin  tlmt  loll  in  viim 
TotariUiy  |iior''iii|^  my  urxl  llri<l  iii>  •liuvii, 


his  voii'e  faltercil,  Ihn'  f^rs  rolled  down  his  elieekn,  and  he  .seomed 
toueluHl  l>y  in.spira'/iiitii.  Ye-t  in  atteinplin;;  to  timl  \\\n  way 
home  he  wan  pj-rliapM  jjicllied  up  in  the  kennel  l»y  the  watehmaii, 
ami  earrii'd  to  the  romid  liniise  to  lie  tiiere  till  he  ^rew  soln-r 
(Mioujih  to  state  where  he  lived.  I'orsuii  furnished  the  Tider 
('ellar  with  the  motto  whieh  may  still  he  seen  insi'rihed  over  th(! 
entranei' :  Ifonnn  rnf  hii'ir  ifunijiiv  /tonn).  The  eix'k  of  the  walk 
in  those  days  wius  Oeor^i?  Nieholl,  Kiii^j  CJeorjije  the  Third's 
b<K)ks(^ll(T,  who  hoiwted  that  'he  had  l»elonj;ed  to  tin;  Cider 
Cellar  for  forty  years,  and  that  during  that  time  only  two  mem- 


116 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1802. 


bers  had  been  hung  out  of  it.'  This  was  rather  wonderful,  oon- 
Bidcring  that  Captain  Macheuth  and  all  hin  associates  might  have 
been  admitted  and  had  their  names  inscribed  in  the  register,  by 
taking  the  chair  and  giving  a  tankard,  consisting  of  a  bottle  of 
xtire  and  a  bottle  of  cockagee  sprinkled  with  nutmeg.  But  here 
occasionally  were  reverend  and  grave  characters,  among  whom  I 
ix'member  Dr.  Matthew  Raine,  Master  of  the  Charter  House,  a 
very  fine  scholar  and  a  well-l)re(l  gentleman  who,  if  he  had  not 
died  prematurely,  would  probably  have  been  made  a  bishop. 

I  never  could  acquire  the  faculty  of  smoking,  and  I  only  en- 
dured the  fumes  of  tobacco  that  I  might  see  *  life  in  London.'  I 
ought  to  add  that  even  here  I  observed  strict  sobriety,  abstaining 
from  goes  of  brandy,  and  not  drinking  moi'c  than  half  a  pint  of 
cider. 

In  term  time  I  always  dined  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Hall,  where  we 
drank  nothing  stronger  than  small  beer.  My  earliest  messmate 
there  was  Sugden,  now  Lord  Chancellor  of  Ireland,  who  intro- 
duced himself  to  me  by  asking  me  ^wliat  I  thought  of  the  scintilla 
juris.'  At  other  times  I  dined  at  a  chophouse,  and  indulged  in 
a  pint  of  Burton  ale.  But  with  Spankie  and  some  other  associ- 
ates now  and  then  I  had  a  booze,  when  port  wine  and  claret 
flowed  freely. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  November  20, 1802. 

My  dear  Father: — ^Upon  my  return  from  Westminster 
Hall  a  few  minutes  ago,  I  found  yours  of  the  16th  in  my  letter 
box.  .  .  .  How  could  you  suppose  that  the  race-ball  would  be 
indiiferent  to  me?  Jane  was  our  only  representative  there,  but 
we  were  all  virtually  present.  I  hope  to  be  a  principal  person 
there  myself  Avhen  I  have  bought  an  estate  in  Fife,  and  i  arry 
down  'Lady  Sophia'  to  show  her  my  native  village;  but  if  it 
were  not  for  one  house  at  the  West  Port,  Cupar  Fife,  I  know 
not  if  I  would  cross  the  Tweed  for  twenty  years  to  come. 
There  is  more  of  arbitrary  government  in  Scotland  thon  in  Ger- 
many. As  for  the  Constitution,  the  Constitution  that  you  toast 
so  freely,  you  have  no  more  of  the  English  Constitution  than 


1802.] 


EXECUTION  OP  COLONEI,  DE8PARD. 


117 


the  inhabitunte  of  Calcutta,  or  the  garrison  of  Oibraltur.  I 
hope  one  day  to  introduce  among  you  some  salutary  reforms.  .  . 
I  fervently  hope  that  Despard  will  l)e  hanged.*  I  suppose 
with  you  the  plot  will  be  considerctl  as  something  of  mighty 
consequence.  It  is  every  way  contemptible.  The  only  man 
concerned  in  i*^.  above  the  lowest  of  the  common  people  is  Des- 
pard  himself,  a  man  as  mean  in  talents  as  wicked  in  principles. 
I  have  conversed  with  him,  and  know  him  to  l)e  a  pitiful  fellow. 
He  will  shortly  be  brought  to  trial.  From  what  has  yet  trans- 
pired there  is  no  reason  to  8up[«)sc  that  there  was  any  design 
tpon  the  King's  life.  His  Majesty  certainly  goes  down  on 
I'uesday  to  open  the  Session  with  a  most  gracious  speech  from 
the  throne.  The  speech  will  probably  be  couched  in  such  gen- 
eralities as  to  mean  neither  one  thing  nor  another.  The  debate, 
however,  must  be  uncommonly  interesting. 

Lincoln'R  Inn.  February  15, 1803. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  hope  you  have  enjoyed  your  amuse- 
ments on  the  ice  without  any  anxiety  on  my  account.  I  intended 
sooner  to  have  answered  your  kind  letter  of  the  28th,  but  from 
the  necessary  avocations  of  business  and  pleasure,  I  have  not 
found  leisure  till  the  present  moment.  Besides  I  do  not  like  to 
write  like  a  machine.  Punctuality  is  the  soul  of  the  correspon- 
dence of  business,  but  in  that  of  affection  it  is  better  to  study 
inclination  and  convenience.  I  do  not  know  that  those  who 
neglect  their  absent  friends  are  to  be  blamed  with  great  severity. 
A  sense  of  duty  would  not  be  sufficient  to  overcome  my  indo- 
lence and  to  reconcile  me  to  a  painful  dru(lj«;erv,  which  corres- 
pondence must  l>ecome  when  it  ceases  to  be  voluntary. 

You  are  quite  mistaken  if  you  think  that  travelling  with 
James  Riggf  is  to  me  a  dazzling  object.  I  do  not  absolutely 
say  that  I  should  refuse  the  offer  upon  proper  terms,  but  in  ac- 


*  Colonel  Despard  was  tried  for  high  treason  in  plotting  to  establish  a 
republic  after  mHSsacring  the  King,  the  Royal  I'arnily,  and  many  members  of 
both  Houses  of  Parliament.  He  and  six  others  were  executed.  Howell'B 
fiita<«  Trials,  vol.  xxviii.  p.  345      Lives  of  Chief  Jnsticett,  iii.  177. — Ed. 

f  Son  of  'the  great  laird  of  our  parish  at  Cupar.' 


118 


LIFK  OF   LORD  CAMPBEIJ,. 


[1802. 


\i: 


ccpting  it  I  should  siicrifice  interest  to  incliimtion,  my  general 
improvement  to  my  prof'essionul  views.  It  in  on  many  act'ounta 
necessary  that  I  should  remain  in  London.  A  long  tour  on  the 
Continent  would  interfere  with  my  legid  education  and  would 
break  any  slight  ehain  of  eonn(>etions  which  1  nuiy  have 
formed.  .  .  . 

The  question  is,  whether  I  could  get  a  new  engagement  with 
the  'Chronicle.'  I  have  aciquired  considemble  reputation  as  a 
dramatic  critic.  From  reading  the  'Star/  the  'Sun/ &c.,  you 
will  see  what  miserable  Grub  Sti-eet  generally  appeal's  under  the 
head  'Theatres.'  There  are  a  f<!W  cant  terms  upon  which  differ- 
ent changes  are  rung  to  answer  private  ends.  I  have  aimed  at 
something  like  i)hilosoj)hical  criticism,  and,  unconnected  with 
authors  and  actoi-s,  have  boldly  spoken  the  truth  of  both.  At 
first  they  used  to  abuse  me  in  the  newspapers,  and  to  threaten  me 
in  private ;  but  finding  that  they  gained  no  advantage  over  me 
in  either  way,  I  am  now  left  to  sway  ray  theatriad  sceptre  with 
undisputed  rule.  Although  these  ai*ticles  appear  veiy  trifling  in 
the  country,  and  are  so  in  reality,  they  here  often  excite  atten- 
tion. A  paper  depends  for  its  reputation  in  some  small  degree 
upon  its  critiquea,  and  I  believe  that  ours  in  this  respect  stands 
higher  than  any  other.  Perhaps  Perry  will  consent  to  retain  me 
specially  for  the  theatres,  and  for  the  department  of  vnt.  The 
deficiency  in  my  salary  I  hoix;  to  supply  by  other  means.  If  I 
had  not  been  so  often  disappointed,  I  should  say  that  I  had  got 
a  job  which  would  bring  me  in  enough  to  pay  my  special  pleader's 
fee.  This  is  a  translation  the  nature  and  advantages  of  which  I 
shall  state  to  you  more  particularly  in  my  next.  I  have  no  pre- 
text for  doubting  that,  with  the  favor  of  Heaven,  I  shall  reach 
the  porch  of  Westminster  Hall,  and  if  I  were  once  in  I  am  not 
without  hopes  that  I  should  advance  faster  than  others  who  enter 
with  more  apparent  advantages.  But  to  obtain  a  paiisport,  hoe 
opus  hie  labor  est. 

Lincoln'B  Inn,  March  1, 1803. 

My  DEAR  Brother: —  .  .  .  I  have  received  no  answer  from 
James  Rigg.     I  thought  I  had  been  quite  indifferent  upon  this 


1803.] 


PLAN    l-'Oi:    A   COXTrNKNTAL  TOUlt. 


119 


point,  but  1  feci  a  {^imkI  doiil  ((fdi.siippoiiitiiiL'ut.  If  I  could  pass 
fifteen  months  on  llic  rontlnent  and  receive  two  or  three  hundred 
pounds  at  the  ^'n^\  of  the;  tour,  my  passage  to  the  bar  would  be 
both  easy  and  ilclightful.  I  have  now  kept  eight  terras,  and' 
four  more  eonipli'te  tlie  whole  number,  though  my  name  has 
been  entered  just  half  the  necessary  time.  I  wish  most  earnestly 
to  escape  for  a  while  from  London,  the  scene  of  so  much  morti- 
fication and  distress.  My  curiosity  to  see  foreign  countries  is 
only  inflamed  by  the  partial  gratification  it  receival  last  autumn. 
As  I  mean  not  to  Im  merely  a  dry  special  pleader,  it  woul4  infi- 
nitely pi'omote  my  plans  of  ambition  to  acquire  the  continental 
languages  and  gather  some  notion  of  the  politics  of  tlie  different 
continental  powers.  I  think  I  might  have  travelled  with  Rlgg 
pleasantly  enough ;  I  should  probably  have  been  able  to  keep  my 
own  part  with  him,  and  at  the  same  time  to  have  attached  him 
to  me.  No  father,  no  guardian  to  arrange  with,  he  being  I 
believe  now  of  age.  There  is  no  hope  from  any  other  quarter, 
and  I  must  be  content  to  pass  my  days  in  the  smoke  of  London 
amidst  the  dull  dead  and  still  duller  living  of  the  law.  When 
you  come  over  a  few  years  hence,  Ave  may  however  take  a  trip  to 
Paris  in  company.  .  .  . 

One  day  in  December  Isist,  your  old  instructor  Dr.  Munro  was 
lecturing  upon  anatomy,  and  a  female  subject  was  produced, 
when  an  Edinburgh  boy,  after  suddenly  showing  great  symptoms 
of  horror,  exclaimed  aloud,  '  Eh !  gude  God !  that's  my  gran- 
mitlnn'.'  The  grejitest  confusion  ensued,  and  the  class  was  dis- 
missed. The  lad  ran  home  immediately  and  told  his  friends, 
who  all  maiched  in  a  body  to  Munro's.  The  Doctor,  very 
injudiciously,  in  the  meantime  had  cut  off  the  old  woman's  head 
and  dreadfully  mangled  her  body,  in  the  hope  of  disguising  her 
from  her  relations.  But  it  so  happened  that  Granny  had  two  of 
her  toes  grown  together  in  a  very  peculiar  manner,  so  that  by 
this  and  other  marks  she  was  easily  recognized.  The  moment 
her  bones  were  again  inhumed,  a  suit  was  begun  against  Munro— 
damages  laid  at  £10,000.  However,  the  relations  were  respect- 
able people,  and  they  sigrecd  to  drop  the  process  if  Munro  would 


120 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1803. 


give  up  the  resurrection  man.  To  this  proposal  he  very  dishon- 
orably consented.  An  indictment  was  accordingly  preferred 
against  the  resurrection  man,  upon  whii^h  al)out  three  weeks  ago 
'  he  was  found  guilty  and  sentencotl  to  fourteen  years'  trunHi)orttt- 
tion.  There  was  uu  application  from  the  advocates  tjinploycd  in 
the  prosecution  to  try  to  keep  the  trial  out  of  th(;  London  papei's, 
as  they  had  provided  means  for  preventing  it  from  lx!ing  printinl 
at  Edinburgh.  The  story  was  spread  however  over  the  whole 
country,  and  occasioned  the  greatest  consternation.  At  Glasgow 
a  riot  was  the  consequenw.  The  mob  had  h('ui*d  that  there  were 
some  dead  bodies  at  the  college,  and  the  professors  and  students 
were  besieged  by  a  multitudinous  army,  almost  frantit!,  for  several 
hours,     r  am  not  sure  whether  any  lives  were  lost. 

There  is  nothing  stirring  in  the  political  world.  Addington 
becomes  more  popular.  Pitt  continues  in  ignominious  retire- 
ment. Fox  is  making  ineffectual  attempts  to  forc«  his  wife  into 
company.  Parties  are  in  a  sad  state.  I  see  no  chance  of  the 
war  being  speedily  renewed,  notwithstanding  the  vaporing  on 
both  sides. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  March  15,  lh03. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  Had  it  not  been  for  this  terrible 
storm  that  has  just  buret  over  our  heads,*  I  make  no  doubt  that 
your  plans  for  my  continental  tour  would  have  been  crowned 
with  complete  success.  But  at  this  moment  the  thing  seems 
hopeless.  The  very  night  on  which  you  despatched  your  letter 
the  awful  news  would  reach  you.  I  asserted  in  my  last  that 
there  was  no  danger  of  war  for  three  or  four  years,  and  I  assure 
you  that  was  the  opinion  of  the  most  intelligent  and  best  informed 
people  here.  It  is  impossible  to  conceive  the  consternation  pro- 
duced in  the  mercantile  world.  .  .  . 

For  ten  days  I  have  enjoyed  more  leisure  than  I  could  desire. 
I  have  no  pleasure  in  receiving  my  four  guineas  on  Saturday  if 
I  have  done  nothing  through  the  week.  The  theatrical  season 
is  almost  past,  and  we  are  at  present  too  grave  for  wit.    Prepare 


*  The  threatened  renewal  of  war  with  France. — Ed. 


1803.] 


ACADEMICAL  AND  ATHENIAN  SOCIETIES. 


121 


for  applause.  I  have  spoken  twice  in  public.  The  *  House  of 
Commons '  is  dissolved;  but  I  belong  to  two  other  societies,  the 
Academical  and  the  Athenian.  The  former  is  extremely  respet^t- 
able,  being  composed  almost  entirely  of  young  men  c<hicated  at 
Oxford  or  Cambridge.  Its  chief  ornaments  are  the  two  sons  of 
Charles  Grant,  the  East  India  Director  who  gave  George  his 
appointment.'*'  'Alas!  I  shrink  into  the  deepest  self-contempt 
when  I  look  up  to  them.  Both  their  learning  and  their  eloquence 
arc  astonishing.  I  opeied  the  debate  here  on  Friday  night;  I 
got  through  as  well  as  I  expected.  I  hope  to  succeed  better  at 
our  next  meeting.  I  am  still  afraid  to  leave  my  shell.  When 
my  fate  is  so  very  uncertain,  do  you  wonder  that  I  feel  a  little 
anxiety?  In  six  months'  time  I  know  not  whether  I  shall  be 
travelling  in  Germany,  or  fighting  the  French  in  Ireland,  or 
drawing  pletw  in  a  special  pleader's  office,  or  writing  romances  in 
Grub  Street. 

My  imagination  was  very  strong,  or  this  epidemic  thrcatenctl 
an  attack  upon  me  last  week.f  For  two  days  I  had  the  headache 
and  other  incipient  symi^oms.  I  confess  I  was  a  good  deal 
alarmed,  as  in  case  of  sickness  my  situation  would  be  so  very 
dreary.  I  can  go  into  pleasant  s«xjiety  when  I  like,  but  there  is 
no  one  who  would  be  at  all  surprised  at  not  seeing  me  for  five  or 
six  days,  a  longer  term  than  Monsieur  la  Grippe  in  general  takes 
to  perform  his  errand.  My  laundress  lights  my  fire  at  eight, 
takes  away  my  tea-things  at  eleven,  and  makes  down  the  bed  at 
five;  but  whether  I  livetl  or  died  she  would  only  care  as  much 
as  a  year's  wages  would  be  better  or  worse  than  funeral  perqui- 
sites. Than):  God,  my  apprehensions  were  groundless.  For 
some  days  I  have  been  as  stout  and  hearty  as  I  ever  was  in  my 
life. 


*  Robert  Grant,  afterward.-.  Governor  of  Bombay,  and  Charles  Grant,  after- 
wards Lord  Glenelg. — Ed. 

fin  a  letter  to  the  Oentleman's  Magazine  of  March,  1803,  an  epidemio 
called  'Influenza  or  catarrhal  fever'  ia  said  to  be  'at  present  common  in  the 
Metropolis.' — Ed. 


VOL  I. 


6 


122 


LIFE  OP  IX)RD  OAMPIIKLI.. 


[1803. 


Lincoln"!  Inn,  March  2«,  180,1. 

My  drar  Father: —  .  .  .  Peace  and  war  seem  to  Imj  quite 
uncertain,  but  whatever  be  the  result  of  the  present  ne^otiatioiM, 
the  prospect  Ixsforc  us  is  most  dismal.  I  can  safely  say  that  my 
anxiety  arises  more  from  pi'.Mio  than  {)ersonal  considerations, 
though  the  latter  are  ver^-  powerful  to  make  me  pray  for  tlie 
tranquillity  of  Eui-ope.  If  this  storm  blows  over,  I  certainly 
go  abroad  with  James  Rigg.  I  had  a  note  from  him  last  night 
saying  *  that  he  had  heard  from  his  friends  in  the  North,  and  that 
their  ideas  exactly  agreed  with  mine  and  his  own  that  we  should 
do  very  well  together.*  He  concluded  by  saying  that  he  was  to 
call  upon  me  this  morning.  Accordi'igly  he  came  lietween  one 
and  two,  and  we  hnd  a  friendly  eonfub  together.  His  leave  of 
absence  will  commence  soon  after  the  King's  birthday,  when  he 
would  wish  to  set  out,  having  first  paid  a  visit  to  his  mother. 
The  Court  of  King's  bench  does  not  ri,se  till  the  end  of  July, 
but  this  would  Ixj  no  very  serious  obstacle  in  our  way,  as  1 
could  ettfily  arrange  with  Spankie  about  a  substitute.  You  may 
begin  to  be  afraid  of  not  seeing  me  for  a  long  and  indefinite 
period.  I  swear  most  solemnly  that  I  shall  agree  to  no  plan, 
however  advantageous  or  flattering,  which  would  prevent  me 
from  going  down  to  Scotland  next  summer.  None  of  you  can 
long  more  earnestly  for  our  meeting  once  more  than  myself.  I 
I  foci  that  I  have  been  too  long  from  home. 

T  know  you  will  say  it  is  affectation  in  me  to  impute  so  little 
importance  to  the  tour.  If  I  considered  it  certain,  I  should 
look  upon  it  as  one  of  the  most  memorable  events  in  my  life. 
But  I  do  not  expect  that  the  country  will  be  in  ouch  a  state  as 
to  admit  of  an  officer  obtaining  leave  of  absence.  In  case  of 
war  I  should  not  wish  to  go  abroad.  In  such  a  war  as  it  will 
be,  every  man  owes  his  person  to  his  country.  The  point  must 
certainly  be  decided  in  a  few  days.  *  God  send  us  a  good  deliv- 
erance ! ' 

Lincoln's  Inn,  April  12,  isav 

My  dear  Father: —  .  .  .  War!  war!  Yesterday,  when 
we  hetu-d  of  Prussia  having  guaranteed  Malta,  all  obstacles  were 


1803.] 


DISAPPOINTED  OP   HI8  TOUR. 


123 


rcmovcil  to  uii  tu'coiiiiiKMlatiuti,  untl  peace  wuh  certain.  NewH  in 
arrived  tf  Hoimparte  having  seized  the  port  of  Flushing,  and, 
after  diHniissing  the  Dutch,  declaring  it  in  a  state  of  siege.  If 
this  Iks  true  we  may  exixjct  to  hear  every  hour  of  hostilities  hav- 
ing connnencal.  Although  our  cause  was  tin;  l)t.,-(t  any  nation 
ever  had,  JJony  has  alrcatly  contrived  to  make  us  appear  the 
aggressors  to  all  Europe.  Oh!  deplorable  iiioapaeity  in  Min- 
isters !  Oh !  shameful  supineness  in  people !  Hut,  indeed,  the 
out(a-y  against  the  Doctor  is  so  strong  that  a  chaiigt^  is  l)econie 
necessary.  It  is  believed  that  Dundas  is  already  appointed,  and 
that  Pitt  will  be  declared  Minister  in  a  day  or  two. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  May  15, 1803. 

My  DEAn  Father  and  Sisters  : — You  will  wonder  to  find 
me  so  much  dejected  if  you  think  that  the  war  merely  puts  a 
stop  to  a  tour  which  I  had  once  represented  as  scarcely  desirable. 
But  of  late  I  have  seen  more  clearly  how  necessary  it  was  that  I 
should  be  for  a  year  or  two  absent  from  Loudon.  I  am  not  only 
cut  off  from  the  prospect  of  ever  standing  in  the  Roman  forum, 
but  the  means  fail  me  by  which  in  time  of  poiu^e  I  should  have 
supported,  if  not  distinguished  myself  at  home.  The  attention 
of  the  nation  is  completely  turned  from  literature  and,  while 
many  undertakings  of  great  importance  are  laid  aside  by  the 
booksellers,  the  department  of  a  newspaper  which  I  might  have 
filled  sinks  into  insignificance.  In  peace  I  should  have  had  a 
choice  of  pleasant  occupations,  and  I  do  not  see  that  I  was 
greatly  to'  blame  in  supjiosing  that  after  nine  years  of  war  we 
should  for  some  short  period  enjoy  it.  There  are  two  or  three 
other  cii'cumstances  which  are  unfavorable  to  me.  Mackintosh 
is  going  out  to  the  East  Indies  as  Recorder  of  Bombay.  He 
knows  nie  iiiid  has  promised  mo  his  support.  He  has  very  great 
influence  among  tln'  huvyciv,  and  would  have  smoothed  all  diffi- 
culties in  my  way  to  the  bar.  Perry  is  very  ill,  antl  I  fejvr  dying. 
Although  he  is  not  alH)ve  fifty,  tiiere  is  to  all  appearance  a  com- 
plete break-up  in  his  constitution.  But  I  will  not  proceed  with 
this  bead-roll  of  had  luok.  .  .  .  T  have  formed  no  plans  for  the 


124 


iAVK  OF   LORD  CAMI'HKM.. 


[1803. 


future.  I  think  in  tluM  grcut  orisiM  I  could  (li8|K)flv  of  myHelf 
no  way  m  woU  an  in  Hcrving  my  country.  8upi>oHv  I  nhould 
enliMt  UH  u  soUlior,  you  nuiy  Hiiy  I  lmv«  cntorrd  *  the  GuartlMj '  or 
if  I  nhould  accept  the  lH)unty  iim  an  ithhslKMlied  hindsmun,  there 
would  Im!  no  dJHgriice  in  Huyin^^  thut  you  hiive  '  a  eton  in  the  navy.' 
Perhap8  you  nmy  have  interest  to  get  nic  Home  office  in  the  gitlt 
of  your  Kirk  Hctwion.  Might  I  n«)t  \yc  conntitutitl  precentor,  or 
appointeil  hcl()er  and  HucccKHor  to  Deacon  Dunmn  in  the  ancient 
office  of  gruve-digger  ?  If  Bonaparte  does  not  come  over  Ix-'fore 
then  with  his  first  100,000  men,  I  exjKXJt  to  see  you  in  August, 
when  wc  shall  consider  to  which  of  these  objects  I  ought  now  to 
direct  my  ambition.  I  shall  do  whatever  you  advise,  provided 
you  mention  no  such  words  us  *  tlie  Church  of  Scotland.' 

I  could  laugh  at  my  own  distreHH<>s,  but  I  conf(>88  that  I  uinnot 
look  at  the  state  of  public  affairs  without  the  utmost  dismay.  I 
observe  every  circumstance  and  every  symptom  that  have  usually 
preceded  the  downfall  of  empires — ind)ecility  and  distraction  in 
the  counsels  of  those  at  the  head  of  affaire,  division  and  faction 
among  the  principal  men ;  above  all,  apathy  and  insensibility  to 
danger  among  the  people.  I  really  wish  it  might  please  God  to 
promote  a  certain  j)ersonage  from  an  earthly  to  a  heavenly  crown. 
I  Iwar  him  the  most  perfect  good  will ;  I  respect  his  private 
virtues ;  I  would  sacritict;  my  life  to  protect  him  from  a  traitor, 
but  his  race  is  run;  a  prolongation  of  his  reign  can  tend  neither 
to  his  own  glory  nor  the  hnppinesM  of  bis  people.  No  doubt 
from  good  intentions,  be  seems  to  have  contrived  an  antipathy 
against  the  men  of  all  i)arties  to  whom  we  can  look  up  with  any 
degree  of  confidence.  With  Fox  and  Pitt  for  our  Ministere,  W(! 
should  have  a  much  better  chance  to  dethrone  lionaparte  than  ho 
would  have  to  make  the  slightest  iinprctssiim  upon  us.  If  the 
Addingtons  are  to  govern  us  much  longer,  our  subjugation  seems 
inevitable.  I  told  you  long  ago  Avhat  mij^lit  be  expected  from 
such  an  administration,  and  these  predict i(»ns  are  quite  as  well 
founded  as  those  which  have  been  fulfilled.  I  have  many  per- 
sonal reasons  to  wish  for  a  change.  Were  Erskine  or  William 
Adam  Chancellor,  I  should  laugh  at  Garrow.  .  .  . 


1803.] 


DEGREE  OP  A.  M. 


126 


P.  8.  There  have  been  vuriuu8  pueific  riiinorH  during  the  morn- 
ing, all  I  Iwlievc  without  the  slightcHt  fuundution.  IIoHtiiitieu 
arc  prolmhly  ctoniinenced.  I  know  not  whether  it  will  be  worth 
my  while  to  join  the  Innn  of  Court  volunteerH.  I  hIiuII  i^ertuinly 
enter  Honje  t'or|»H,  and  if  it  reully  hud  u  proHjM't't  of  lu^tuul  Horvice 
I  hhotild  Ik)  the  iMitter  plcuMnl.  I  funey  your  Cupur  volunteent 
will  be  re-eml)odie<l ;  I  can't  8uy  that  I  at  all  apjirove  of  the 
clergy  taking  arma.  There  are  different  notions  however  in 
Scotland,  and  the  exeituHe  will  l)e  gtxMl  for  you. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  May  24, 1803, 

My  DKAii  Father: —  .  .  .  My  great  object  when  I  am  in 
Scotland  will  be  to  procure  a  proi>er  introduction  to  Adam*  and 
Parkf — particularly  Adam,  who  is  the  worthiest  man  alive,  and 
if  he  were  made  acquainted  with  my  luHtory  I  am  Hure  would 
take  me  under  his  protection.  A  mere  letter  of  introduction 
will  not  do — that  I  could  obtuin  from  various  quarters. 

You  will  laugh  when  I  say  that  1  mean  to  take  out  my  degree 
of  A.  M.  from  St.  Andrews.  ...  I  there  spent  many  valuable 
years  in  doing  nothing,  and,  far  from  laying  any  severe  blame 
upon  myself,  I  rather  wonder  how  the  spark  of  literature  was 
not  for  ever  extinguished,  being  surrounded  by  such  corrupted 
air.  But  I  am  forced  to  show  this  mark  of  reverence  to  a 
'  parent,  the  murderer  of  her  offspring.  Degrees  you  know  in 
England  are  everything.  The  honors  of  our  northern  universi- 
ties are  not  highly  esteemed,  but  still  they  are  of  some  value,  and 
it  here  appear,s  an  absurdity  to  say  you  have  been  seven  years  at 
college  without  taking  a  degree.  I  must  now  tliiuk  of  the 
special  pleader  who  is  to  receive  my  hundred  guineas  for  allow- 
ing me  to  copy  his  precedents.  Though  the  knowledge  I  acquire 
from  him  may  be  a  little  high-priced,  the  money  will  be  well 
spent.    I  hope  to  hold  up  my  head  a  little  higher  ^vhen  I  have 

*  William  Adam,  appointed  in  1816  Lord  Commissioner  of  the  Jury  Court 
in  Scotland.— Ed. 

t  James  Allan  Park,  appointed  in  1816  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas.— Ed. 


1S6 


lAVV.  OV   MMtD  rAMI'IIKI.I.. 


[1803. 


tluiM  clinii-cil  aiyrwlf  frtMii  tlu!  iip|HirL<iit  critnc  of  iiidigoncc,  tho 
(loiiM'ioMHiK'ivt  ot'  whli'li  lit  |»ri>Mfiit  Ml  wi>i|{liM  iiK>  down.  I  hIiuII 
tlii!ii  likcwim'  liiivt'  ^;i'i<atcr  iUciliticN  ot'  iiiukiii^  iri<>iii|Mlii|M  with 
youii;;  nun  ot'  rrs|KTtiil)ilily.  Hut  for  the  mikv  of  mywilf  hm  \\v]\ 
lut  otlit'i-.-i  I  oii^l't  to  wiy  I  lU'Vfi'i'xiicriciKifl  iinytliin}^  liiit  polito- 
nifw  from  tlic^  ,stiult<ntM  with  whom  I  i>«>tii(>  in  <>ontact  in  tho  (*ourt» 
or  in  liint'oinV  Itui  Hull.  They  sfcni  to  have  no  MUHpicion  of 
my  uv«M-:itionr<.  To  Im;  huiv,  I  do  nhow  mmv  tuldrcM  in  Hinking 
thu  t'i'iHUtci'  and  fonccalin^  niy  appt'chonrtionH.  I  huvi;  «>nly  to 
wixh  that,  like  Ganirk,  I  could  Iohi>  all  ri'tMilliition  of  my  own 
rhamt^tor,  and  ftn;!  nothing  hut  tlif  NcntiincntH  of  thu  part  I  act. 
VVhatuvcr  iMromcH  of  me,  1  trunt  [  rthali  hoth  fcul  the  scntimcnto 
and  act  thr  part  of  an  hoiicul  man. 


I  Ltni'oln'd  Inn,  July  8, 1803. 

My  dear  Fatiikii: —  ...  I  (runnot  any  with  any  certainty 
when  I  Hhall  Icuvc  London,  or  what  plan8  I  shall  follow  on  my 
return.  1  have  wnrludcd  a  iMirj^ain  with  Perry,  and  am  to  write 
critiques  and  }^rlnd  paragnipliM  for  ow.  hundred  guineas  a  year. 
I  dare  Hay  this  appeaw  very  liheml  payment  to  you,  and  I  doubt 
not  that  it  Im;  hut  I  have  couHidenHl  whether  1  nhouhl  not  reject 
the  ofli'r  and  trust  entirely  t(»  chanct'.  .  .  .  Thow!  who  have 
friends  in  Fnuice  l)egin  to  Ik;  very  iummlsv.  Jn  caw!  of  invasion, 
hostiliticM  will  Im>  carried  on  with  an  asperity  not  known  in  Europe 
for  ages.  Should  it  ho  impossible  in  any  taise,  on  land  or  water, 
consistently  with  safety,  to  jjjive  quarter  as  soon  jw  a  part  of  an 
army  or  a  sipuufron  yields,  Bonaparte  will  stiy  'you  have  violated 
tlie  laws  of  war,'  and,  (iollcctinj?  into  one  spot  the  Enj^lish  in  each 
department,  will  order  them  to  be  nuu«sa(!red  by  his  artillery.  I 
am  now  a  member  of  the  IJloomsbury  and  Inns  of  Omrt  Associa- 
tion. I  (If)  not  thiidc  I  shall  buy  my  arms  and  uniform  till  after 
my  return  fiom  Scotland.  I  nuist  get  a  lesson  from  some  of  your 
drill-sergeants.  I  escape  the  ballot,  from  Lincoln's  Inn  being  a 
place  extra-paro(jhial. 


180.1.] 


pnomwCT  TO  vwiT  wYyri.AXi). 


127 


Mncoln'»  Inn.  July  30,  1803. 

My  DKAit  Fatiiku: — I  Imvu  thi;  picuhiiru  to  iiiforin  yoii  that 
I  t\m  iliiy  ri'iMtivcd  u  luttur  fruiii  (Juor^t',  dati^l  Cultuittii,  Jaiiuury 
20.  lit!  wiiM  tluTu  in  iNTfiK't  hcultli.  IIv  htul  cuiiii!  to  town  tu 
Htt)  tlu' Krun(l/«V<;  givon  in  honor  o(  the  Pftux!  The  plwwure 
of  our  nui'tiu);  will  now  Ik;  iinulloyed.  I  ttct  out  mrly  to-morrow 
morning.  TIh!  wind  '\a  fair  un<l  c>vt>rythin|j;  |iromiM!H  u  proM|)c>r()UH 
voyage.  I  l>t>li(>vi!  I  nicntiomil  in  my  lett(ir  to  Johm  that  I  go  by 
thu  '  liOitl  Kiiinuirii/  Kohh,  niiuHter,  of  Dunilvn.  Do  not  by  uny 
nicutiH  think  of  (toming  to  hiind  nu;  on  Hhoro.  Thu  uncvrtAinty 
of  niivigiition  \a  ho  grcnt  that  you  might  Ih)  obliged  to  wait  Hcvvral 
duyri  in  u  diHiigreaiblu  placv,  und,  IxiMidcH,  I  Hhull  fly  to  your 
(tnibmcc  with  |)c>culiur  pleuHuru  when  I  sec  you  tiurroundud  by 
tlumo  who  uru  duur  to  mc.  1  feel  no  gn>nt  extiUntion  u)M>n  u 
rt'vii'W  of  till!  luMt  three  yeurs ;  but  u[K)n  tlic  whole  I  um  not 
a.>thiitn(>d  to  uppour  Ix'fore  you.  I  um  cousuiouM  of  many  folliei), 
irroru,  and  failurcH ;  but  I  know  not  tlmt  I  uhould  accept  of  nn 
oflur  to  run  afresh  this  purt  of  my  course.  As  wo  ure  so  soon  to 
converse  fuce  to  face,  the  hurry  iu  which  I  am  is  the  less  to  be 
regretted.  Do  not  fear  the  French.  By  this  day  week  you  will 
be  Huying  to  me : 

Venitli  tandem,  laaqiie  ipectala  parenli 
Vieil  iter  durum  piktab,  datur  ora  tueri, 
Nate,  tua,  et  notnt  uioun'  ct  reddtre  vocen* 

Da  jxmgere  dextram,  da  gvnitor.  Forgive  me :  my  feelings 
would  carry  me  too  fur.  But  this  sensibility  excites  no  shame  in 
my  breast,  and  will  not  hurt  me  in  the  opinion  of  ray  relations. 
If  I  have  acquired  no  celebrity,  if  I  have  done  nothing  to  rescue 
myself  from  obscurity  and  indigence,  still  my  heart  remains 
uncorruptcd.  After  pa*«ing  through  scones  but  ill-<!ulculatcd  to 
quicken  and  to  foster  cirly  attachments,  I  can  proudly  boost  of 
feeling  the  same  reverence  and  aftection  for  my  father,  the  same 
tender  regard  for  my  sisters,  as  when  I  first  left  the  paternal 
roof.  ... 


*£ne\d,  vi.  687  and  697-8. 


I'JH 


I, IKK  Ol'    LOltn  <'AMI>H>:t.t,. 


[IHo:i. 


! 


[Ilu  M|M>iit  thu  iiiuiith  ol'  Augiii4t  with  liijt  lutlitr  in  .Sotluiul. 
Tliu  c(>rru4|M)ii(l(>iiLt)  iH  rt>HUiii<>tl  uii  hiit  i'i!turii  to  I<uii«l<iii. —  Kd.J 

Lincoln'^  lrin,8o|>(nmlior  10,  |H03 

My  okah  Fathku: — I  Hit  <lown  om'o  mnro  to  write  to  you 
within  thu  gloomy  wiiIIm  of  my  chiimlHTM  in  Uncohi'M  Inn. 
Kti|t|>r(>HHinK  thu  miuiy  mournful  fuclinf^  that  woi^^h  u|Min  my 
heart,  I  Hhall  prcM'iHNl  ut  oufu  to  givu  you  Homu  account  of  my 
jouiiiiy  to  town.  I  left  Oarli.sli'  on  Sunday  nmmiitjr  ut  nix 
o'cliH'k.  On  thu  top  of  thu  innwh  wu  had  u  go<Mi  dual  of  con- 
vurMition  alN)ut  llattiuld,  and  a  man  ai!(|UaintHl  with  thu  country 
pointed  out  the  mountain  lN>hind  which  thu  unfortunate  Mary 
of  Huttermvru  ruisiiltHl.*  A  riMolutiou  wiw  inunediatuly  forniwl 
by  un(»thur  youn^;  fullow  and  myHuIf  to  walk  to  the  Hpot  and  to 
wait  at  I'enrith  for  thu  Liv«'r|MM)l  j-oach  of  thu  next  day.  Upon 
our  arrival  at  Punriiu  it  turned  out  that  the  distance  wan  nearly 
thirty  miles.  My  (ravelling  companion,  partner  in  a  flouriwhing 
houst!  in  the  City,  wouhl  not  he  baulk(d  in  hin  enterpriHC. 
Whether  I  would  uc(u)inpany  hinr  or  no,  he  Haid  he  was  deter- 
mined to  tnk«!  a  post-chaise.  We  urrlvetl  at  Keswictk,  upon  the 
Derwcnt  I^ake,  nlwiut  four  o'cilmik.  We  were  told  it  wjim  Htill 
sixteen  miles  to  Huttermere,  but  that  there  was  a  path  over  the 
nioiuitains  not  above  nine.  Being  furnis]ic<l  with  a  guide,  wo 
set  out  for  Buttermere  by  this  lusarer  way.  Before  mc  liad  got 
half  way  our  guide  fell  ill,  and  we  were  oblige<l  to  disinisH  him. 
However,  we  reached  the  place  of  our  destination  jusf  about  sun- 
set. You  recolle<!t  th(!  valley  described  by  Johnson  in  '  Riisselas,' 
Hurroundcid  by  impassable  mountains  on  every  side  This  idea 
ficciuH  to  have  been  taken  from  the  place  where  wc  then  stood. 
On  looking  round  we  could  not  conceive  how  it  had  been  possi- 
ble for  us  to  descend,  and  we  were  filled  with  dread  that  we 
should  never  be  again  able  to  escai)e.  Mary,  we  were  told,  was 
from  home.     I  suspect,  however,  that  this  was  only  in   the 


*  Hatfield  waa  an  impostor  who  irarried  Mary  (or,  as  she  was  first  called, 
Sally)  of  Buttermere.  He  was  convicted  of  forgery  and  banged  September 
3, 1803.    See  Oentleman'i  Magazine. — Ed. 


1803.] 


A    MONTH    IN   Mfrri.AND. 


120 


foNhioimblo  miiiw,  ntiil  I  think  I  onoo  caught  a  glimptw  of  h«r. 
Wo  miw  iiikI  coiivcrMHl  with  ht<r  {Mtrontji.  From  um  ih«>y  fintl 
Icnriit  thti  iicwH  thut  llatncld  hiul  lN>i>n  cxvciitLtl,  nt  whifh  thry 
both  ({natly  ri>joic(><|.  Whiio  wo  worn  Hitting  in  th<t  kitrhon, 
•ovrnil  |H>()|>)(>  niriic  in  to  hnvc  their  pint  of  nU).  Wo  f'outul 
thotn  viry  int«Himiit,  but  th«y  ili><'hir«'<l  that  thoy  hml  mnint'ly 
over  Imhmi  lN>yi)n<i  tho  valley,  an«l  their  riirthoMt  journey  had  Ufm 
to  KeMwit'k.  Nothing  over  (llleil  mo  with  greitter  aMtoninhment. 
Our  walk  back  wdh  inooniTivably  romantio.  The  nuMin  had 
rlHon,  and  we  mjiw  ovory  objeet  in  u  luio  light.  Wo  lowt  our  way 
Bcvomi  titneK,  but,  taking  Hkiddaw  ibr  u  landmark,  wo  at  liutt 
steered  our  way  to  the  '  King'n  Arms'  at  KiiNwick.  I  w)ul<l  not 
help  84>veral  timiM  fueling  alarnuNl  in  Moeing  myHolf  in  Hueh  wild 
and  he(|ue.Htered  HitiuitiiuiM  with  a  man  whom  I  hud  known  but 
fur  a  few  hourH.  I  wan  afraid,  like  Ilomtio  in  '  Hamlet,'  that 
having  allured  mo  to  thu  brink  of  a  protupicc,  tho  figure  would 
awumc  Home  dreadful  Hhupo.  A  oompariHon  of  my  HU|M>rior  size 
and  Htrength  addo<l  not  u  little  to  my  ountldonoo.     IIo  told  mo 

Btrungo  HtorioH  about  his  Iniing  a  natural  hou  of  Ijord  P ,  of  \m 

having  Ik-'oii  Hoveral  years  in  tho  army,  &o.,  which  I  Imvo  now 
rcoHoti  to  believe  aru  all  true,  but  at  the  moment  made  mo  blame 
my  ruMlinoMH  in  thus  putting  my>*elf  in  his  iM)wer.  Tho  road 
from  K(^Hwii'k  t(t  Kendal  lies  through  tho  middle  of  tho  lakes, 
distance  about  thirty  miles.  I  never  was  so  ravishc<l  with  the 
granduur  of  nature  as  during  this  journey.  We  travelled  a  con- 
siderable way  along  the  banks  of  tho  famous  Windermere,  and 
passed  (ilose  by  the  Bishop  of  Llandaff 's.  Wo  dined  at  Kendal 
and  again  mountetl  tho  stage-coach  about  four.  That  night  we 
slept  at  Lancaster.  Next  evening,  alwut  five,  we  arrive<l  at 
Liverpool.  Our  conveyance  wius  a  long  coach  which,  from  the 
uunibor  of  passengers  it  carries,  is  very  cheap.  Liverpool  is  a 
stupendous  njoiniment  of  human  industry,  and  I  was  greatly 
delighted  with  it.  The  ship{)ing,  from  being  collectt^  into  docks, 
appears  greater  than  that  of  the  river  Thames.  The  public 
buildings  are  wonderfully  fine.  Look  back  not  very  far,  and 
Liverpool  consisted  of  a  few  fishermen's  huts.     Here  for  the 


130 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1803. 


first  time  I  saw  the  sun  dcseeiid  into  tin;  western  oecaii  ufter 
gilding  the  distiint  mountains  of  North  Wales.  About  one 
o'clo<!k  on  Wwlnesday  we  set  out  for  Manclu'Riter,  whore  we 
arrived  a  little  l)efore  dark. 

By  six  on  Thui-sday  morning  we  wiiio  on  the  top  of  'The 
Commeniial '  post-i^oatih  on  our  way  to  Jjondon.  When  do  you 
think  we  arrived  at  Derby,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles?  A  few 
minutes  after  twelve.  Sueh  driving  to  be  sure  I  never  saw. 
Cheshire  and  Derbyshire  are  (juite  mountainous,  but  we  went  at 
a  gallop  a  great  part  of  the  way.  In  going  down  deep  descents^ 
I  was  at  fii-st  terrified  out  of  my  wits.  The  I'cmaining  part  of 
the  journey  we  proceeded  at  a  more  motlerate  pace.  I  pjjssed  a 
very  uneasy  night  as,  notwithstjinding  my  utmost  elforts,  I  could 
not  keep  myself  from  sleeping.  I  cauglit  myself  a  hundreii 
times  just  beginning  to  dream,  but  in  a  half  a  minute  strange 
objects  were  again  swimming  before  my  eyes.  Day  began  Ui 
break  as  we  approached  Dunstable,  and  by  the  time  we  reaclmd 
St.  A I  ban's  the  sun  was  risen.  The  night  was  excessively  cold, 
and  had  it  not  been  for  a  great  coat  I  was  obliged  to  borrow,  I 
should  have  perished  altogether.  In  a  sliort  time  however  it 
became  quite  sultry,  and  the  skin  (I  conj(!cture)  being  made  ten- 
der by  the  frost,  the  sun  had  sutJi  an  effect  ujion  our  faces  as  tt» 
blister  tliein.  Between  eight  and  nine  we  arrived  safe  at  the 
'AVhitc  Iloi-se,'  Fetter  Lane.  I  repaired  with  a  beating  heart  to 
Lincoln's  Inn.  No  lettera  for  me !  The  bustle  of  departure  and 
hurry  of  travelling  had  prevented  me  from  feeling  in  its  full  bit- 
terness the  pain  of  8ei)aration,  but  when  I  reatJied  my  home — 
saw  no  eye  to  welcome  me — reflected  that  for  hundreds  of  miles 
around  me  there  was  no  human  being  that  cared  for  me,  and  re- 
membered that  in  one  (!orner  there  was  a  family  who  p(;rhaps  at 
that  moment  were  weeping  my  absence,  but  from  whom  I  was 
cut  off,  SIS  it  were  for  ever — then — then — 

.  .  .  I  can  say  nothing  jis  yet  of  my  plans  for  the  winter.  Oh! 
write  to  me  soon  and  say  something  to  comfort  me.  I  never  was 
so  cast  down  as  now.  ...  I  mean  to  attend  drill  every  morning 
next  week.     They  say  that  since  the  complete  rupture  between 


1803.] 


VOLUNTEERING. 


131 


Pitt  and  Addington  occasioned  by  the  Treasury  pamphlet,*  in- 
trigues have  been  going  on  to  bring  Pitt  and  Fox  together,  which, 
though  they  are  thwarted  by  the  underlings  on  both  sides  whose 
consoquence  would  thus  be  annihilated,  may  not  impossibly  suc- 
ceed.    Farewell,  my  dear  father. 

Jjincoln'H  Inn,  Septenibor,  1803. 

My  dkau  Father  : —  ...  Since  I  came  to  London  I  have 
done  nothing  but  'soldier,'  and  even  now  I  can  scarcely  steal 
half  an  hour  from  my  military  duties.  We  are  to  be  reviewed 
to-morrow  morning  in  Hyde  Park.  My  trunk  ai'rived  on 
Thursday  last.  Having  no  notion  of  your  opening  it  again,  I 
was  most  agreeably  surprised  with  the  addition  you  had  made  to 
its  contents.  What  a  store  of  conserves  I  am  provided  with!  T 
toast  incKSt  luxuriously  eveiy  morning.  In  looking  into  Lord 
Bacon's  works  lately,  I  observed  among  his  other  rules  to  pn;- 
-crve  health  and  ensun  long  life,  'always  to  have  a  good  break- 
fast.' r  wish  I  could  in  my  whole  life  exemplify  his  lordship's 
precepts  as  I  do  now  upon  my  return  from  drill.  No  doubt  the 
jelly  and  marmalade  would  be  more  exquisite  if  I  ate  them  with 
some  Olio  to  whom  I  could  talk  of  those  who  made  them,  and  to 
whom  I  (iould  express  my  sense  of  the  kindness  I  receive. 

[In  the  Autobiography  he  gives  the  following  account  of  his 
voluntocring. — Ed.]  ' 

My  chief  distraction  from  legal  study  was  soldiering.  Bona- 
parte's threat  of  invasion  had  become  serious.  He  had  assembled 
at  Boulogne  an  army  of  above  100,000  veterans,  and  he  was  col- 
loeting  ships  to  transport  them  across  the  Channel. 

All  men  of  all  professions  took  up  arms  as  volunteers.  ^ly 
fiitlicr,  notwithstanding  his  sacred  character,  actually  served  in  a 
\()lnnteer  corps  at  Cupar  till  the  extremity  of  the  danger  had 
blown  over,  and  his  example  was  followed  by  many  of  the  Scot- 
tish clergy,  who  quoted  various  precepts  and  pi'cccdents  from  the 


•See  Stanhope's  Life  of  Pitt,  vol.  iv.  p.  91-94. — Kd. 


132 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1803. 


Mi: 

1:: 


Old  Testament  for  priests  and  Lovitcs  fighting  against  the 
heathen.  The  description  of  the  military  mania  in  Scotland  at 
this  time  by  Jonathan  Oldbuck  in  the  *  Antiquary  *  is  equally 
applicable  to  London.  I  know  not  that  reverend  judges  laid 
aside  their  robes  and  coifs  for  the  gun  and  cartouche  box ;  but, 
from  the  Attorney-General  to  the  articlwl  clerk,  all  the  rest  of 
the  profession  flew  to  arms.  The  corps  most  convenient  for  me 
would  have  been  the  Temple,  or  'Devil's  Own,'  commanded  by 
Erskine.  He  often  boasted  of  having  been  '  both  a  soldier  ami 
a  sailor;'  nevertheless  he  drilled  his  corps  so  badly  and  its  repu- 
tation was  so  low  that  I  would  not  belong  to  it.  From  the  Uni- 
formity of  the  line  being  broken  by  the  projecting  stomachs  of 
the  well-fed  Temple  benchers,  it  was  said  to  l)e  the  most  famous 
belly-gerent  corps  in  England,  and  all  sorts  of  scurvy  jests  Avere 
fired  at  it.  I  enrolled  myself  in  the  Bloomsbury  and  Inns  of 
Court  Association  (called  for  short  the  B.  I.  C.  A.),  commanded 
by  Colonel  Cox,  the  Master  in  Chancery,  assisted  by  Will  Har- 
rison, the  famous  parliamentary  counsel,  as  adjutant.  We  were 
exercised  every  morning  at  daybreak  in  the  grounds  of  the 
Foundling  Hospital,  and  we  had  often  field  days  and  sham 
fights  in  the  country.  That  we  might  learn  to  take  goo<l  aim  at 
the  French,  we  met  to  fire  ball  at  Highbury  Barn,  near  Isling- 
ton. Cox  did  his  duty  very  efficiently,  and  Harrison  was  down- 
right sokUer-niad,  for  he  persuaded  himself  not  only  that  he 
could  carry  a  battalion  through  the  manual  and  platoon  exercise 
better  than  a  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Guards,  but  that  he  had  a 
genius  for  conducting  sieges  and  planning  campaigns.  When  he 
met  us  in  private  he  was  constantly  criticising  the  battles  of 
Bonaparte,  and  pointing  out  the  errors  committed  on  both  sides. 
AVe  were  told  at  the  same  time  that  when  he  was  admitted  to 
dine  at  a  rcginiental  mess  he  talked  nothing  but  law,  so  that  he 
was  a  great  lawyer  among  officers,  and  a  great  officer  among 
lawyers.  Nevertheless  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  B.  I.  C.  A. 
was  the  best  disciplined  volunteer  corps  in  the  metropolis,  and  so 
it  was  pronounced  by  George  III.  when  100,000  of  us  were 
reviewed  by  him  one  very  rainy  day  in  Hyde  Park.    I  never 


1803.] 


VOLUNTEEKINO. 


188 


rose  above  the  ranks,  but  I  was  a  front  rank  man,  and  allowed 
to  be  very  steady  and  alert.  Moths  have  consumed  my  scarlet 
coat,  but  I  still  preserve  my  Brown  Bess  musket  as  a  memorial 
of  my  military  prowess,  and  mean  to  hand  it  down  as  such  to 
my  posterity.* 

Lincoln's  Inn,  October  26, 1803. 

My  deab  Father  : —  ...  I  have  thought  several  times 
that  my  next  would  be  dated  from  Shorncliffe  or  Pevensey,  and 
written  on  a  drum-head  or  the  back  of  one  of  my  camarades. 
Although  I  still  lodge  at  No.  2,  my  occupations  are  completely 
military.  I  can  really  say  nothing  of  myself  unless  I  were  to 
speak  of  field-days,  reviews,  watch-coats  and  knapsacks.  Sad 
time  this  for  the  JWiwra,  sad  for  the  Ooddesn  of  Special  Pleading  ! 
My  plans  remain  quite  undecided.  I  would  really  wish  this 
invasion  to  be  over  before  I  enter  into  an  oifice.  It  would  be  a 
provoking  thing  if  the  very  week  after  I  had  paid  down  my  100 
guineas  I  should  be  hilled,  off.  Seriously,  my  time  is  so  much 
engaged  and  my  attention  is  so  mueh  diverted  by  this  soldiering, 
that  I  could  not  apply  to  a  new  and  revolting  study  with  suffi- 
cient closeness  and  ardor.  Till  Cliristnia.s  therefore  I  am  afraid 
I  shall  do  nothing  but  (;arry  my  musket,  go  to  the  theatre,  and 
read  the  newspapers.  I  expect  to  be  introdu('cd  in  a  day  or  two 
to  Ma<'kintoHh,  who  I  Ivnow  is  disposed  to  befriend  me.  I  shall 
consult  him  and  follow  his  advice.  I  am  afraid  the  family  can- 
not hope  to  gain  any  martial  laurels  by  me.  Unless  the  French 
were  to  push  on  to  <he  neigliborhood  of  London,  the  volunteers 
are  not  likely  to  be  called  into  the  field.  To  think  of  making 
them  serve  a  campaign  is  quite  monstrous.  In  the  first  place, 
though  they  might  do  pretty  well  for  a  brash,  th(^  would  die 
like  rotten  sheep  if  they  were  to  sleep  for  a  few  nights  on  the 
ground,  and  to  submit  to  other  necessary  hardships.  Secondly, 
the  whole  business  of  the  niititni  would  be  at  a  stand  if  tliose 


*  September,  1857.  It  has  now  got  a  ooinpanion  in  a  Rupsfan  firelock  taken 
in  the  battle  of  Inkerman,  and  presented  to  me  by  my  gallant  nephew,  Willie 
Scarlett.    [Now  the  third  Lord  Abinger. — Ed.] 


134 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1803. 


who  compoBe  the  volunteer  eorps  were  to  be  long  absent  from 
the  metropolis — the  principal  merchants,  lawyers  and  shopkeep- 
ers, the  heads  of  public  oiiices,  and  the  conduutora  of  the  most 
necessary  establishments.  Besides,  except  in  a  case  of  extremity, 
Government  would  nut  wLsh  to  put  such  men  in  a  situation 
where  they  could  do  no  more  than  a  coal-heaver  or  a  plough-boy. 
It  is  said  that  upon  the  landing  of  the  French  the  projected  lines 
will  immediately  be  constructed  round  London,  and  that  to  man 
these  will  be  the  duty  <!ast  ujjon  the  volunteers.  For  my  own 
share,  I  could  without  much  regret  forego  the  glory  of  fighting 
against  an  ai*my  led  on  by  the  Chief  Consul ;  but  if  occasion 
demands  I  shall  march  as  cheerfully  as  most  men.  'In  the 
awkward  squad,'  indeed !  I  was  passed  into  the  line  before  I 
had  been  ten  days  in  London,  and  have  long  been  fit  to  be  fugle- 
man to  a  battalion  of  the  Guards.  You  will  see  by  the  papers 
that  our  review  is  on  Friday.  We  must  be  at  the  Foumiling 
Hospital  soon  after  six.  On  such  occasions  I  lay  me  in  half  a 
pound  of  cold  beef,  which  I  wash  down  my  throat  in  the  morn- 
ing with  a  pint  of  porter.  I  will  not  frighten  you  by  mentioning 
the  expense  of  my  dress  and  accoutrements !  I  shall  get  on  pretty 
well.  I  have  found  out  a  house  now  where  I  can  dine  decently 
for  1«.  6d.  Unfortunately  the  articles  on  which  I  can  retrench 
are  of  trifling  amount  in  the  scale  of  my  expenditure.  At  present 
no  bookseller  will  enter  into  a  speculation  the  returns  of  which 
he  cannot  have  in  a  month. 

Your  conjectures  about  Bonaparte's  views  of  invasion  are  those 
of  the  most  intelligent  and  best  informed  here.  The  ensuing 
session  will  be  very  interesting,  but  nothing  as  yet  is  at  all  known 
of  the  state  of  parties. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  December  28, 1803. 

My  dear  Brother  : — We  expect  to  hear  of  an  attempt  by 
Bonaparte  ever  hour.  I  do  not  believe  that  we  shall  be  marched 
down  to  the  coast  in  the  fii'st  instance,  unless  the  enemy  land  in 
very  great  force,  but  we  shall  certainly  be  put  upon  permanent 
duty,  and  all  will  be  bustle  and  confusion.     My  constant  prayer 


1803.] 


FEAHS  of  a   FRENCH   INVASION. 


136 


is  that  the  attempt  may  be  made  without  delay.  Tlic  present 
state  of  suspense  U  extremely  painful,  and  the  cloud  must  burst. 
The  Bloomsbury  have  a  very  high  reputation,  which  I  trust  will 
be  raised  in  the  field.  We  are  u  corps  of  fusUeers,  no  flank  com- 
panies, all  the  eight  instructed  in  light  infantry  movements. 
Although  it  has  rained  incessantly  for  three  weeks,  we  are  going 
upon  a  skirmishing  party  to-morrow.  On  such  occasions  we 
march  across  the  country  in  a  right  line,  over  hedges  and  ditches, 
through  bog  and  through  briar.  While  I  sacrifice  both  my  time 
and  my  money  with  cheerfulness,  I  cannot  help  soniotimes  reflect- 
ing that  had  it  not  been  for  the  restless  ambition  of  un  individual, 
i  might  now  have  been  climbing  the  Alps,  or  wandering  among 
the  ruins  of  the  Roman  Capital.  'Think  what  my  faithless  for- 
tune promised  once.'  However  things  have  been  going  on  with 
me  better  of  late.  I  wished  the  invasion  to  be  ovor  Ixjfore  I 
entered  with  a  pleader;  but  the  alarm  for  a  little  wliuc  subsided, 
and  Bony's  intentions  seemed  quite  uncertain.  Accordingly  I 
got  a  letter  from  Mackintosh  to  Tidd,  the  most  eminent  special 
pleader  in  England.  With  him  I  begin  my  studies  in  arte 
plaeitandi  next  week.  He  has  ten  or  a  dozen  pupils  bef-ides, 
dashing  young  fellows.  I  hope  to  acquire  in  the  course  of  the 
year  a  great  deal  of  useful  knowledge,  and  the  introduction  to 
society  to  me  is  a  matter  of  porlmps  still  more  importance.  I 
feel  new  spirit,  and  hope  to  make  atonement  for  my  past  conduct. 


186 


UFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1S04. 


CHAPTER  V. 

JAMUARr.  1804— Decrmber,  1804. 

Becomes  a  Pupil  of  Mr.  Tidd  tho  Special  Pleader— Debating  Society  in 
Tidd'e  Office — Deninan— Coploy — I'epys — Tho  Acftdemicar — Charles  and 
Robert  Grant — 'The  Athenians' — Brownloy— Adolphus— f<pankie — Wilde 
— ilornce  Twins — Madnew  of  tlio  King — Tho  Mahratta  War — Ucsigna- 
tion  of  Addington  and  Return  of  Pitt  to  Power — Account  of  Special 
Pleading — Takes  ChuniborH  in  the  Inner  Temple — Tax  on  t*pecial  Plead- 
ing— Middlesex  Election — Agrees  to  Stay  Two  Years  Longer  in  Tidd'e 
Office — Tho  Young  Koscius. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  .January  2.  1801, 
1  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  am  most  excessively  perplexed  how 
to  proceed  at  the  present  nionient.  When  I  spoke  to  Tidd  the 
alarm  about  invasion  hud  subsided,  and  I  said  I  should  like  to 
enter  with  him  at  tho  beginning  of  the  year.  The  general 
opinion  is  that  the  flotillas  before  Brest,  Boulogne,  and  Holhmd 
are  by  this  time  at  sea,  so  that  I  may  expect  immediately  to  be 
put  upon  permanent  duty  and  marched  from  Jjondon.  81i:ill  1 
then  to-morrow  morning  pay  the  100  guineas,  or  shall  1  not? 
There  is  an  Ancrum  story  of  the  village  tailor  being  a.sked  when 
he  intended  to  put  hi'?  son  into  breeches.  *  I  shall  wait,'  said  he, 
'till  the  sniall-pox  be  over.'  Snip's  answer  was  very  prudenl, 
,  because  thodi.sease  was  then  raging  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the 
event  would  be  speedily  known.  But  he  who  would  wait  for 
the  execution  of  the  threats  of  France  might  be  like  the  msHc 
who  waited  till  the  river  should  run  dry.  Upon  the  whok;  T 
think  I  .shall  pay  down  my  money  to-morrow  morning,  unless 
news  arrive  of  the  French  having  actually  landed.  I  think  I 
have  before  told  you  that  the  terms  of  all  special  pleaders  are  the 
same,  viz.,  100  ;;uineas  for  one  year,  or  200  guincjis  for  three 
years.     Tidd  !.•*  liy  i'l.v  i1h>  first  iiv.m  in  this  line.     lie  has  con- 


1804.] 


LKTrEU    FROM   MACKINTOKH. 


137 


Htantly  from  ten  to  fifteen  pupils.  'lie  is  in  Tidd's  offico' — it 
hoH  a  prodigious  fine  Houud.  I  got  a  letter  from  MuckintOHh 
through  Spankie.    Copy : 

'  Dbar  Sir  ; — Allow  mo  to  lako  thu  liberty  of  introducing  to  you  Mr.  Cunip* 
bell,  ft  young  countryman  of  mine,  of  roRpectablo  charactnr  ami  connoctionn, 
who  iii(l)!Hirou8  of  bocomint;  your  pupil,  You  doal  so  fairly  by  all  tlioxo  who 
have  thu  advantagu  of  your  inittructionR  that  particular  rccomiiiondalion  hooiiik 
unnocoHsary ;  but  if  I  may  venture  to  rocomtntind  anyone  to  you,  [  am 
inducf'd  by  utrong  roaHons  to  rficionuiujnd  Mr.  C.  as  Htrongly  aH  1  can,  nnd  to 
say  that  1  nhall  consider  every  attention  to  liitn  ao  a  personal  favor  to,  doar 
sir,  yours  most  respectfully, 

'  James  MxcKiNTOdu. 

'  Dover  Street,  Decomber  17,  1803.' 

I  cim  say  little  for  the  elegance  of  the  composition,  hut  the 
recommendation  is  as  warm  and  friendly  as  I  oonld  de,><irc. 
Mackintosh's  leaving  this  country  is  to  me  a  very  lumentablo 
event. 

Any  letter  to  William  Adam  must  arrive  in  the  course  of  a 
fortnight  to  be  of  any  u.se  to  mo.  There  is  a  ceremony  at  our 
Inn  of  performing  exerciso.s,  that  i.s,  of  reading  a  few  line,^  written 
down  for  you  by  the  butkr.  But  before  you  are  admitted  to  thl.s 
display  of  genius,  you  must  have  a  certificate  from  a  member  of 
the  society,  saying  that  you  are  *a  fit  pinson  to  be  called  to  the 
bar.'  This  in  fact  is  the  orde.al  which  a  man  has  to  j^o  tlu(»n;i,h 
previously  to  receiving  the  honors  of  the  gown.  Nine  of  these 
exercises  must  be  performed,  and  you  are  admitted  only  to  three 
in  one  term.  I  ought  to  begin  without  delay.  The  son  of  a 
D.D. — my.self  M.  A. — in  the  Bloon):>bury  volunteer,s — in  Tidd's 
office !     I  can  have  nothing  to  fear ! 

When  the  three  per  cent,  books  are  re-opened  at  the  Bank,  I 
propo.se  to  .sell  out  one  hundred  pounds.  For  this  at  the  present 
nite  I  should  receive  fifty-tjix  pounds,  a  f^um  more  than  suHicient 
to  pay  my  Christmas  bills,  and  to  keep  me  a-going  till  a  re-inforce- 
ment  arrives  from  India.  If  these  rascally  French  were  only 
beaten  back,  I  do  not  at  all  despair  of  being  yet  able  to  earn  some- 
thing considerable  by  my  literary  exertions.     Just  now  tlu;  only 

VOL.  I.  6* 


ms 


MFi:  OF   LOUD  CAMI'HKI.I,. 


[1804. 


trnilos  that  flouririh  ■irc  tiio  ai'iuoror  and  tli(>  (^iiniMiwder  inaiiiirac- 
turor.  I  i*\\t\\\  fcol  IK)  rciuorse  in  popping  down  a  few  of  the 
monimcn'H,  They  have  done  nic  nmch  niiwhier  perwMiuIly  qh 
well  as  nationally.  I  might  now  have  bciui  Hailing  down  the 
Aroo  or  attending  a  proce^ion  to  the  Vatican. 

Still  to  ourBolve*  in  every  placo  condign'd, 
Our  own  fulicity  wo  muke  ur  find. 

So  says  the  poet;  but  how  does  ho  explain  himself? 

With  secret  courM,  which  no  loud  utortni  (innoy, 
QlidcH  tlie  smooth  current  of  domettio  joy, 

I  had  no  one  to  greet  me  on  the  return  of  a  new  year,  and  when 
I  «ime  home  from  a  solitary  meal,  I  hotl  no  one  to  listen  to  my 
melancholy  thoughts,  while  the  whole  nation  was  dinsolvcil  in 
conviviality  and  mirth; 

But  me,  not  doHtmod  such  delightn  to  share, 
I'm  doomod  I'or  lil'u  to  solitude  and  caro. 

I  shall  no  longer  find  time  hang  heavy  on  my  hands.  The 
hours  at  the  oftiee  are  tiom  nine  to  four,  and  from  six  to  eight. 
Many  consider  it  merely  as  a  lounging  [)lacc  for  un  hour  or  two 
in  the  forenoon,  and  perhaps  do  not  look  in  above  twenty  times 
during  the  twelvemonth.  I  need  not  say  that  I  shall  do  my 
utmost  to  get  a  pennyworth.  What  with  debating  societies  in 
the  evening,  the  theatres,  visits,  &e.,  I  flatter  myself  that  1804 
will  pass  a\vay  very  agreeably,  lieforc  the  end  of  1805  I  shall 
expect  to  be  called  to  the  bar  and  I  shall  then,  I  trust,  begin  to 
taste  the  fruits  of  the  enterprise,  industiy  and  perseverance  which 
I  shall  have  displayed.  May  you  during  this  period  and  long 
after  meet  with  everything  that  is  prosperous.  Unless  you  were 
to  participate  in  it,  the  most  brilliant  success  would  be  tasteless 
to  me.  I  cannot  imagine  a  scene  of  happiness  in  which  my 
father  does  not  appear.  Is  it  possible  that  you  nmy  one  day 
witness  in  person  a  successful  exertion  of  my  powers  as  a  public! 
speaker,  and  enjoy  the  applause  which  f  rweive?    Thi?  is  the 


1804.] 


KNTIMIM  TII>1)S  OFFrCK. 


i;;n 


inoHt  ni|>tiii'oiiM  iili'ii  tintt  cvvr  Mprutig  from  my  imvy  in  its  most 
luMitctl  iiimI  iiito\icatL><l  moments. 

I  am  ilroiimiiig  and  ought  to  bo  asleep;  but  '[weta  toll  that 
morning  dreatnH  come  true.* 

Lincoln't  Inn,  .Inmmry  12,  lfl04. 

My  DKAii  BuoTiiKR: — I  am  quite  tircfl  tnlkin^  and  thinking 
of  invasion.  The  winter  has  l)een  o)M'n  :iiid  mild,  and  for  weekn 
the  wind  hiw  l)o<'n  fair  for  Honaparto,  >•»■(  the  litllr  scoundrel  has 
done  nothing  but  dan(!<>  alKmt  from  i'arin  to  Boulogne,  and  Htate 
in  i\w  'Monitonr'  that  he  wa?*  coming  upon  u«  with  3()0,(K)(> 
men.  The  cloud  may  perhapH  burst  upon  uh  when  we  least  ex- 
\m\i  it.  You  nuiHt  not  mind  what  Col)lM}tt  Hays  of  the  volun- 
toers.  I  have  no  doubt  that  they  will  l)elmve  well  in  the  fieM. 
The  disputes  now  prevailing  among  them  arise  from  the  dnad 
of  danger  having  suicided. 

I  entered  with  Tidd  on  Monday  the  16th.  I  have  been  able 
to  pay  my  way  by  selling  out  three  per  cents.  My  tailor's  bill 
amounts  to  within  a  trifle  of  £40,  regimentals  included — X3  3». 
for  a  military  great-coat.  Last  week  the  Bloomsbury  got  fonig- 
ing  caps,  and  magazines  to  hold  forty  rounds  of  additional  car- 
tridges.   The  details  of  special  pleading  I  defer  till  my  next. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  February  2. 1804. 

My  dear  Father  : — You  are  probably  declaring  against  me 
for  a  breach  of  my  promise  and  undertaking.  There  are  divers 
matters  that  I  might  plead  in  my  defence,  first,  that  I  have  been 
very  indolent.  To  this  you  will  (femur,  as  insufficient  in  law  to 
ju.stify  me.  Secondly,  1  hav(!  had  no  time.  Here  you  might 
take  ixHue  upon  th(!  fact,  and  I  am  afrai<l  that  upon  a  trial  in  the 
court  of  conscience  the  verdict  would  be  against  me.  I  had  bet- 
ter at  once  (!onfeHs  my  guilt  and  throw  myself  upon  the  mercy  of 
lay  judge.  In  mitigation  of  punishment,  I  can  only  urge  my 
past  good  l)ehavi«)r  and  my  present  eompunctiou. 

I  saw  Mr.  Adam  on  Monday  evening.  He  has  no  house  in 
town,  and  he  is  to  Ik;  found  at  his  (thambers  only  between  eight 


140 


I. IKK  OK   i,ol(|»  CAMI'HKM,. 


[1804. 


I 


1' 
i. 


and  toil.  I  nMiId  Htuy  with  him  only  u  very  few  niinutCM.  I 
immt'diutcly  uvuiliid  iiiyM'lf  of  the  friendly  ]>rof<>wionM  which  ho 
niiido  hy  iwkintr  iiim  to  Hij^n  my  ccrtinniti'.  To  thiM  h»  very 
ruiulily  conHt^ntod,  dcHiring  that  tlu!  ntewurd  would  bring  it  to 
him  next  day.  lUi  tuiid  he  nhoiild  In>  rxtrcnu'ly  happy  to  havo 
it  in  hiM  |M)wcr  to  bo  of  um>  to  me.  Ilo  irt  a  man  of  tho  nioHt 
lilx'mi  and  iM'ncvolcnt  NcntinifntM,  and  m  nwrv.  univcrwdly  rc- 
HiHt'tcil  than  any  public  chara<!tcr  now  in  Kn^^land.'*' 

On  Honu!  futun;  (xrnHion  I  hhall  introdii(!C  you  into  Tidd'H 
ofHcc,  and  bring  yuu  acquainted  with  my  brother  pupilH.  At 
present  I  cannot  une  this  freeiloin,  InMng  inynclf  (piite  a  ntninger. 
I  go  on  vigorouMJy  and,  without  a  l)oiwt,  know  more  of  the 
buHincsH  than  thoHc  who  have  biKin  entered  many  monthn.  Hut 
it  is  impossible  for  you  to  form  any  <*onception  of  the  iillencssof 
most  of  the  nascent  pleu-ilrawei-s.  They  <lrop  into  tlu'  ofllce  for 
half  an  hour  on  tluur  way  to  Uond  Street.  For  weeks  and 
mouths  they  remain  away  altogether.  Wlien  they  are  jissembicd 
the  subjects  discus'^<.'d  are  not  cases  and  precedents,  but  the  par- 
ticulars of  a  new  fashion  in  dress,  or  the  respectivt*  merits  of  the 
Youn;,*  Chicken  and  Signora  (jrassini.  I  should  work  much 
harder,  but  I  can  get  no  on(>  to  keep  me  in  (;ountenan<r,  and  I 
sli(Uild  not  like  to  lM!C«)me  proverbial  as  a  /<','///<'■.  1  Ix'Iieve 
there  are  at  present  twelve;  pupils  upon  the  list,  and  of  thes(! 
there  are  really  but  two  or  three  who  ap[)ly  with  any  stcMilincss, 
or  who  seem  to  feel  any  desire  to  improve  themselves.  For- 
tunately few  of  them  will  have  to  labor  for  their  subsislenco. 
One  man  the  other  day,  by  the  death  of  his  lather,  came  into 
possession  of  jtTOOO  a  year. 

I  wius  at  tirst  a,  gootl  deal  embarrassed  by  one  circumstance. 
There  is  a  single  morning  paper  taken  in  at  tluj  oflice,  and  ll.at 
paper  is  the  *  Morning  Chronicle.'  To  hear  opinions  given  upon 
eritiriisms  whii.'h  I  had  written,  and  of  which  I  would  not  for  the 
woi  Id  be  there  known  to  be  the  author !  This  morning,  how- 
ever, J  beard  without  discomposure  one  man  observe  *  tliis  paper 


*TliRn  a  Bonchor  of  Lincoln's  Inn  ;  afterwardB  Lord  CommisBioner  of  the 
Jury  Court  in  Scotland. — £0. 


1804.] 


DEBATING  BOCIETY   AT  TIUD's. 


Ml 


wriM  vory  wvoro  ii|wn  Mrn.  Jordan  in  Mimtidu/  nnd  anotlic* 
(loft'tid  the  Htrirtiirt'M  I  had  riiu<lt>  ti|Hiii  hi>r,  A  third  (>xchiiiiif<l, 
'lIori^'H  a  iiioiiMtrotiH  ^(mmI  thin^;:  "Ah  th(>  iiickiuunu  ot'  '  thi' 
DfH'tor'  Htill  HticlvH  to  Mr.  Ad(liii};(()ii,  iiotwithNtuiidin^  all  \m 
nUvin\AH  to  Mhakc  it  off,  he  iimy  !»<■  truly  ntyli'd  /r  mi'itivin  vial- 
{/r(  lui,  or  tht!  *  M<M'k  Minister.'  " '  I  naid  with  an  air  of  indif- 
fL'r(>n(>(',  what  T  really  thought,  that  it  waH  u  poor  (|iiil)M(;  uikiu 
Moiit'^re'H  play.  At  tin;  miiw  tiiiu!  I  tiiiiHt  coiit'cKH  that  I  urn 
terribly  alanned  when  tht-ri;  \h  any  talk  alnuit  nowspaporH  or 
ri'portci-s,  and  on  one  or  two  occuHiouH  my  confuHJou  might 

oiwily  have  Iwcn  di.s«'i'rnod. 

* 

tiinuoln'H  Inn,  February  2U,  1801. 

My  dkar  Fatickii: —  .  .  .  I  ^o  on  vigorously  with  my 
•poeial  ph'adinif.  Ticid  ronHid(>rH  nw  as  a  man  of  Konio  tantc.  I 
am  likely  to  reap  to  the  full  all  theadvantajjfcs  which  I  promise*! 
myself  from  a  pleader's  oiliee,  and  I  think  I  shall  receive  as  full 
n  consideration  for  my  hundred  ^uinoas  lus  I  <lid  for  the  1h.  M. 
which  r  paid  to-<lay  for  my  dinner  at  the  chop-house.  Nothing 
but  the  irresistible  motives  which  spur  me  on  <!ould  enable  me  to 
combat  the  disj^ust  inspired  by  special  pleading.  It  is  founded 
up<m  reason,  but  rude,  rude  is  the  superstructure.  This,  how- 
ever, is  now  a  necessary  post  in  eairyinf;  on  your  j)rofessional 
adiuDtccs.  The  four  ju<lf>es  who  preside  in  the  Court  of  Kinj>;'s 
Bench  all  practiced  .as  special  ]»lea(lcr8.  It  is  now  vacation  time, 
and  we  have  not  much  business  in  the  oflice.  I  continue,  how- 
ever, to  fjo  rcf^ularly  at  olevcji  and  stay  till  four.  A  considera- 
ble part  of  this  time  may  he  taken  up  in  talking,  but  I  seldom 
lejive  Tidd's  chambers  without  being  acquainted  with  something 
of  which  I  was  ignorant  when  I  entered  them.  There  is  a 
mclvtji  among  the  pupils  which  meets  once  a  week,  exclusively 
for  the  discussion  of  questions  of  law.  It  is  modelled  upon  the 
plan  of  the  courts  at  Westminster:  a  chief  justice,  counsel  for 
the  plaintiff  and  defendant,  &c.  The  great  ornament  of  our  bar 
is  a  Mr.  Pepys,*  a  nephew  of  Sir  Lucas.     The  question  for  last 


* AftmwarJs  Lord  CliaacoUor  Cottouham. 


112 


I.IKK  OK    l.<>UI>  fAMIMIKM.. 


[1804. 


ScUunlay  inorniii;;:  'A.  I«iu.«'h  to  \\, ;  H.  ii-wiunn  to  C, ;  i\  uuiUiM 
II  iH>\v  (•ovi'tititit  wiili  A.  tor  till'  |H(viii«'nt  ot'  tlo'  rciit  iiimI  ii;«hi;;nii 
to  I). ;  |).  Im>('oiii«'s  l)iiiikrii|)t,  his  ii«.<4i)r||t>i'H  I'litcr,  ||m>  rent  iN't'oinoH 

ill  iintMir.      A.  siicm  ('.   ii|niii   tlio  rovnuiiit,  iiinl   i omtm.     Q. 

('iiiiC  iii;iiiit;iiii  (III  itcti'iii  ii;{iiiii^t  the  iiMHij^tu'ii-s  tor  tlu'  iiioiloy 
lit'  liii'*  lliilM  In'i'Ii  ('oni|H>llr«|  to  piiy  ?'  I  rtiii  it^Hiirc  you  thin  uiim 
ti^itatnl  with  as  iniicli  kcriinrsM  ih  if  it  liiul  In>«  ii  Kotii(>  iiitciCHtitij^ 
point  ill  lilcnitiin'  or  |)oliti('H.  An  apt  tpiotatioii  iVoiii  Lord 
(!ok('  IH  lu^anl  with  more  applaiixc  than  il'  it  raiiic  iVoni  •liivmiil 
or  Ci«>i<ro,  I  tlattfr  iiiyM'U'  that  I  HJiall  Im'  vaii<l:ili/*>(l  by 
»l('j;r('<'H. 

I  atn  ini»rti(i<-(I  to  fiii«l  that  I  am  older  lli-iii  iiiont  of  th*'  men 
ill  the  oilicc.  In  all  th(<  tliil'cn'iit  ntajj^cs  ot'  my  pro;i;rt'SH  hilln-rto 
I  liuvi'  Ih'cii  youM;;t'r  than  any  of  my  contcmiMtrarit',-'.  I  was  almost 
thfyouii|j;«'st  that  was«'v»'rpiil  toth(';?nunniar-rlioo|.  I  wiisainiost 
t ho  youngest  that  wan  hvit  wnt  ttM-olIcj^c.  I  was  proltaldy  llat 
yoiinjj;«'st  that  ever  I'litfrt'd  at  the  Divinity  I  fall.  1  wan  oiit;  of 
the  youiij^cst  that  I'Vcr  was  finploycd  as  u  tutor;  and  I  was,  I 
Ik-'IIi'Vo,  the  very  yoiin;,^'st  that  was  ever  r«'tained  as  a  parlia- 
mentary reporter.  HowevcT,  If  it  please  (mmI  that  I  am  lalled 
tt>  the  har  in  the  end  ot'  1805,  1  shall  prohahly  he  tlii'  yoim^^est 
iithrnlurn' t\mt  lias  reached  the  dej^ree  of  harrisler.  It  is  neldom 
that  a  man  can  have  (piilted  one  profession  and  s«-rved  a  long 
appriiitiecship  to  another  Ix'lore  his  twenty-sixth  yeai'.  It  is 
a  ^reut  pity  that  I  had  not  enrolled  my  name  upon  the  hooks 
iinm(!diat(!ly  upon  leaving;;  Wehsler.  I  should  thus  have  saved 
tiiyselt'  almost  a  twclvemoiilli.  At  the  same  time  I  cannot 
hiame  myst^lf  Cor  the  omission,  as  prudemv  ri<|uired  that  I 
should  first  iuseertain  whether  I  was  capable  oC  maintaining 
myself  during  tin;  period  of  my  study.  ...  I  wish  I  had  any 
share  of  the  gcinius  of  Rousseau.  I  fear  I  hav<!  his  failing  of 
imagining  that  mankind  »n'  always  plotting  against  me.  I 
should  compare  myself  with  more  ju'opriety  to  kS-rubb,  who  says 
he  is  sure  that  certain  persons  had  In-eu  talking  of  him,  and 
being  asked  his  reason  replied, 'Oh!  they  laughed  so  con- 
sumedly.'     This  is  a  most  unhappy  Jealousy.     To  it  may  truly 


1801.] 


t>KltATINU  WHlirrV    AT  TIDDll, 


143 


Im  u|>|»li<'<l  what  in  niM  of  iiiiotlii'r  ii|M>cii'M  iif  tlir  iiiMt«'tii|M>rt 
'Tritli<M  lifflit  iut  air  itrc  to  tlic  JtaloiiM  ronllriiiutloii  Htioii^;  iw 
pr<H>lM  front  \\n\y  writ.'*  I  may  (mtIiuiih  mul  in  your  next  tliiit 
tli«<  Miiii)>  frariii>  of  iniii<l  (\tn  ii  riiati  to  fcrl  iimro  rx(|uiHiti>ly  tin' 
^rutiili'Utioii  wliirh  arim-M  from  r<'s|H>ct  ami  a|iplaiiNi>,  and  tliat  I 
Nhull  Ih>  riK'oruiM'MHtNl  in  u  niorv  lulvuiiuti  |H>rioil  of  lift*  for  tlio 
MulU'rinjjs  of  my  youth. 

[Il<>  allude.'*  in  tliiH  IrtttT  to  the  dclHitin};  H(M'i(>ty  of  TiddV 
pupilH.  In  till'  Antoliiojrnipliy  )i<>  ^ivcf*  tliu  fulluwiug  ucitount 
of  thin  and  other  dchatlnj;  wK'lt'ticH. —  Kd.]: 

In  Tithl'H  ortici'  tlwrr  waH  n  wu'H'ty  which  mot  wwkly  for  tho 
di^'iiMNion  of  juridical  ((UCHtiouH.  Thin  coUMiHtcd  of  his  pupilit 
for  the  time  hcin^,  and  any  former  pupilM  who  ch(KH4>  to  attend. 
Of  this  liwt  cliuw  then'  were  two  who  have  Hinc<»  riwn  to  j^reat 
ottieial  cminonc*' — Denman,  turn'  Lord  Ohief  .hiHti<'<>  of  tho 
(yourt  of  (J,uecn*H  liom'h  ;  and  Coph'y,  now  Lord  lli^^h  Chan- 
iH'llor  of  Great  Uritiiin.t  'I'l't-'  former  in  hiHarj^umcfitutionM  wan 
nioreolo<]ucnt  and  fervid  than  aeuti;  or  learncHl,  hut  he  had  alwayH 
a  tino  )];cntlomanly  {Kjrt  and  iH'aring,  which  with  hi)^h  principle 
made  him  iH'loved  and  rcM[)ectcil.  When  (Vtpley  took  paiiiM  ho 
argued  inont  admirably,  giving  a  foretiiMteof  thoM!  powers  which 
nIiouM  have  placed  him  in  tlu;  (irntrank  of  lawyers,  oratorn,  and 
Htatcsnien.  His  fault  at  thin  tinii!  (which  he  aft<>rwards  tnlly 
TOrrectctl)  was  Iwinj;  t(K»  loud  and  <leclarnatory.  I  recollect  that 
on  one  occasion  his  vehement  toncH  Ixing  heard  by  the  laun- 
drcHsen  and  porters  in  Kinj^'s  Bench  Walk,  a  larj^*;  mob  of  them 
collected  around  the  window  of  the  room  in  which  we  were 
Ofwomblcd.  This  caused  others  at  a  f^reater  distance  to  think 
that  a  fire  had  broken  out,  and  messen^'crs  were  dcspatche«l  for 


firo-i 


engines. 


]^>nt 


on  prest^nt  enjoyment,  he  was  reckless  as  to 


what  mijjjht  be  said  or  thought  of  him.     But  by  his  agreeable 
manners,  by  his  contempt  of  hypocrisy,  and  by  the  habit  of 

*0(/i«//o,  act  iii.  scene  3. 
tWritton  in  1842. 


i^ 


144 


LIFE  OP  LOUD  CAMPBELI-. 


[1804. 


representing  liinifielf  f^omewhat  more  self-indulgont  than  he 
really  was,  he  contrivetl  to  disarm  the  censorious  an«l  to  soothe 
all  whom  he  approached. 

It  is  rcnuirkable  that  in  this  club  of  Tidd's  pupils  there  were 
at  one  time  four  mombers  who  afterwards  sat  together  as  law 
lords  in  tlio  House  of  Poors:  Lord  Lyndhurst,  liord  Denman, 
Lord  Cottonham,  and  Lord  Campbell. 

For  debating  on  general  topics  I  belonged  to  a  society  which 
met  at  the  Crown  and  Rolls  in  Chancery  Lane,  and  which  had 
boasted  such  distinguished  members  as  Canning,  Scarlett,  Mack- 
iutosh,  liobus  Smith,  Perceval,  and  Hallam,  but  which  was  now 
falling  into  decay.  It  was  soon  replaced  by  another,  called  'the 
Academical,'  which  met  in  Bell  Yard,  and  the  qualifications  for 
which  was  a  univereity  degree.  It  was,  I  think,  on  the  occasion 
of  my  being  julmitted  here,  that  I  took  out  my  diploma  as  A.  M. 
at  St.  Andrews.  The  perpetual  president  was  Dr.  Maton,  who 
became  a  fashionable  physician,  and  taught  botany  to  the  prin- 
cesses at  Court.  He  was  the  most  formal  of  mankind ;  he  sate 
in  the  chair  in  a  great  cocked  hat,  with  the  solemnity  and  sense 
of  self-importance  known  to  no  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons or  Lord  Chancellor.  The  meeting  was  opened  by  what 
was  called  'philosophical  conversation,'  in  which  the  members 
discussed  all  that  was  new  in  litemture  or  science.  Then  fol- 
lowed an  essay  by  one  of  the  members  in  rotation,  and  last  of 
all  a  debate  on  a  question  given  out  a  week  before,  the  opener 
sj)eaking  by  compulsion  ind  all  the  othei*s  being  volunteers.  By 
many  degrees  the  best  speakei-s  were  the  twin  brothers,  Charles 
and  Robert  Grant — the  one  afterwards  Lord  Glenelg  and  Secre- 
tary of  State  for  the  Colonies,  the  other  Governor  of  Bombay. 
Thoy  gained  groat  celebrity  for  eloquence  in  Parliament,  but  in 
my  opinion  thev  never  spoke  so  well  there  as  they  had  done  in 
Bell  Yai'd.  Thoy  had  had  great  practice  at  Cambridge,  and 
thoy  really  seemed  to  me  to  approach  the  perfection  of  the 
oratorical  art,  insomuch  that  I  listened  to  them  'with  a  mixed 
sensation  of  admiration  and  despair.'  Their  superiority  kept  me 
alniost  constantly  silent.    They  were  in  all  respects  most  accom- 


1804.] 


ATIIKXIAK    nKn.\TIN'(}   SOr-IETY. 


145 


plished  and  most  excellent  men.  They  afterwards  betrayed  a 
want  of  vigor  of  character  which  greatly  impaired  the  effect  of 
their  extraordinary  talents  and  acquirements.  Robert  did  very 
well  in  the  easy  office  of  Judge  advocate,  but  as  an  Indian 
governor  he  never  could  have  been  in  the  same  category  as 
Clive,  Hastings,  and  Wcllcsloy.  Charles  advanced  to  be  Colo- 
n'al  Secretary,  wrote  beautiful  despatches,  and  could  occasionally 
come  out  with  a  good  prepared  spcec-h.  An  anecdote  used  to  he 
related  which,  whether  true  or  not,  is  characteristic  of  the 
brothers.  Dining  together  tHe-d,-tHc,  they  were  highly  pleased 
with  some  fine  old  port  wine,  in  whicih  they  were  not  disinclined 
to  indulge.  Having  exhausted  the  liberal  allowance  at  first 
ordered,  they  wished  very  much  to  have  another  bottle,  but  they 
could  not  agree  which  should  submit  to  the  trouble  of  getting 
up  to  ring  tlic  bell  for  the  butler,  and  they  preferred  their  ease 
till  they  both  forgot  their  disappointment  in  a  sound  sleep. 

To  finish  the  subject  of  debating  societies,  I  may  here  mention 
that  before  I  was  called  to  the  bar  I  became  member  of  another 
caJled  'The  Athenians,'  much  more  miscellaneous  in  its  compo- 
sition, in  Avhich  all  the  party  questions  of  the  day  were  discussed, 
and  the  topics  of  the  House  of  Commons  were  repeated  or 
anticipated.  There  was  here  a  most  marvellous  display  of 
natural  eloquence  from  a  half-educated  man  of  the  name  of 
BroAvuley,  who  really  came  very  near  the  manner  and  execution 
of  Pitt.  Adolphus,  the  historian  of  the  reign  of  George  the 
Third,  was  his  great  opponent.  Adolphus  was  then  keeping 
terms  to  be  called  to  the  bar,  having  started  as  an  attorney,  and 
his  friends  thought  that  he  was  to  throw  Ei-skine  into  the  shade. 
But  he  was  too  old  to  be  transplanted ;  he  was  never  sufficiently 
imbued  with  legal  principles  to  succeed  in  appearing  to  under- 
stand them  and,  after  various  efforts  of  great  pretension,  he  sank 
down  into  a  second-rate  Oid  Bailey  counsel. 

Spankie  who,  galled  with  being  considered  *a  gentleman  of 
the  press,'  was  now  studying  for  the  bar,  here  entered  the  orator- 
ical arena.  He  spoke  with  great  force  and  with  considerable 
fluency,  but  the  effect  of  his  speaking  was  dreadfully  marred  by 

VOL.  I.  .7 


) 


■ 

ft^ 

'T^^t « r 

1 

:i 

Klin? 

tX^irSi 

wf'' 

lis-Jf'w 

Wt 

|);  T^ 

ll 

J-^ 

m 

146 


MFK   OV   JXJIJI)   CAMl'lJKLL. 


[UOl. 


a  most  discoi'dani  voice  and  u  revoltingly  (coarse  Scottish  acceut, 
which  to  his  (lying  day  was  in  no  degree  mitigated,  allhougli  he 
took  Icissons  in  elo«'iilion  I'roin  the  eeJcbmted  Thelwall,  and  spared 
no  pains  or  cost  to  train  liiinself  as  an  orator. 

The  next  'Athenian'  in  p(»iut  of  consequence  was  Wilde,*  then 
a  City  solicitor,  afterwards  my  sue(!essor  in  the  ollicc  of  Attorney- 
General.  His  mind  might  then  be  filled  with  ambitious  visions, 
but  lie  did  not  for  years  afterwai'ds  begin  to  keep  terms  at  an  inn 
of  court.  However,  he  spoke  with  good  elleet  when  he  was  once 
started,  and  had  overcome  a  tremendous  stutter. 

The  only  other  person  wlio  shone  forth  liere  was  Homce  Twiss, 
the  impersonation  of  a  debating  society  rhetorician.  I  have  often 
heard  his  case  tiited  against  debating  societies.  When  he  got  into 
the  House  of  Commons,  though  inexhaustibly  fluent,  his  manner 
certainly  was  very  flippant,  fa(^titious,  and  unbusinesslike ;  but, 
without  being  in  a  debating  society,  I  doubt  whether  he  ever 
would  have  gained  any  eminence  whatever. 

Mr.  Phipps,  the  perpetual  president  of  the  *  Athenians,'  a  City 
merchant,  imitated  the  practices  of  the  House  of  Commons  down 
to  impartially  giving  official  dinners  to  all  the  members ;  for  he 
first  had  the  leading  Tories  (that  party  being  then  in  office),  next 
the  leading  Whig^-.,  and  then  the  rest  of  the  assembly  without 
party  distinction. 

Coachmakei's'  Hall  and  that  class  of  debating  shops,  open  to 
the  public  on  payment  of  a  shilling,  at  which  Garrow  came  for- 
ward and  was  supposed  to  speak  for  his  supper,  were  all  gone 
before  I  came  to  London.  In  those  days  the  speculator  who 
conducted  the  adventui'e,  to  attract  a  crowded  audience,  procured 
the  attendance  of  popular  spoutcrs  by  a  culinary  bribe.  Mr. 
President  Phipps,  like  the  other  members,  paid  his  subscription, 
and  he  provided  his  entertainments  out  of  pure  hospitality,  or  to 
add  to  his  weight  and  consequence  in  the  chair. 


♦Afterwards  Lord  Chancellor  Truro. 


1804.] 


HABn»  OF   TIDDJS    TLl'lLS. 


147 


liincoln'B  Inn,  Marcli  5,  1804. 

My  dkau  George: —  ...  I  have  been  about  six  weeks  in 
a  sijcclul  plwulor's  office.  .  .  .  The  pupils  in  general  have  a  largo 
fortune  in  possession  or  expectancy,  and  are  of  coui-se  idle  and 
dissipated.  Those  who  drop  into  the  office  for  an  hour  or  two 
in  the  uu)rning  instead  of  a  coffee-house  are  pleasant,  agreeable 
fellows.  Happily  I  do  not  find  it  at  all  necessary  to  a.ssociate 
with  thcni  in  their  amusements  and  pleasures.  They  generally 
pay  sevontecn  shillings  or  a  guinea  for  their  dinner  in  a  coffee- 
house, and  think  nothing  of  losing  six  or  seven  guineas  in  the 
evening  at  cards.  I  cannot  help  feeli!ig  some  sentiments  of 
regret  wh(>n  we  separate ;  they  to  feast  at  a  tavern,  to  go  to  the 
opera,  or  to  shine  at  a  ball ;  I  to  slink  into  a  cook's  shop,  and  to 
spend  the  night  in  drowsily  poring  over  a  lx)ok.  At  the  same 
time  I  believe  that  I  am  as  happy  as  any  of  them.  Business, 
which  to  me  is  a  pleasure,  they  find  an  insuffiimble  bore,  and  the 
steady  pursuit  of  an  important  object  saves  me  from  the  languor 
of  ennui  with  which  they  are  frequently  oppressed.  Upon  the 
whole  there  are  few  whose  situation  seems  more  enviable  than 
my  own  at  the  present  moment.  T  have  nothing  to  torment  me, 
I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  improve  and  amuse  myself,  and  I 
am  allowed  in  a  stinguine  hour  to  lu)pe  for  all  the  sweets  of 
gratified  ambition.  It  is  exactly  six  years  since  I  fii-st  came  to 
England.  It  was  then  as  likely  that  I  should  now  be  a  negro- 
driver  in  the  West  Indies  as  a  student  of  law  at  Lincoln's  Inn. 
In  six  yetu's  more,  according  to  the  natural  progress  of  things,  I 
ought  to  have  acijuircd  some  reputiition  at  the  bar.  I  cannot 
underbike  to  promise  a  sufficient  degree  of  sjiirit,  but  my  failure 
sluill  not  arise  from  a  want  of  perseverance  and  industry. 

Long  before  this  reaches  you,  you  will  have  heard  of  the 
King's  madness,  and  probably  of  the  result  of  it,  which  to  us  is 
stil)  unknown.  Never  was  there  such  a  perplexing  state  of 
things.  He  will  probably  soon  be  so  far  in  his  senses  that  it  will 
not  be  possible  to  set  him  aside ;  while,  by  the  best  opinions, 
there  is  no  chance  of  his  ever  again  being  in  a  fit  state  to  trans- 
act business.     His  death  would  be  a  great  deliverance  to  the 


148 


LIF£  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1804. 


1 1 


nation,  and  would  occasion  much  joy,  notwithstanding  the 
unpopularity  of  his  successor.  Happen  what  will,  the  Doctor 
must  immediately  give  in.  There  has  been  (will  posterity  believe 
it?)  a  firm  and  cordial  coalition  eft'ectetl  between  Mr.  Fox  and 
the  Grenvillcs  I  Lord  Grenvillc  has  been  at  St.  Ann's  Hill,  and 
Mr.  Windham  now  extols  the  wisdom  and  virtue  of  that  Charley 
whom  a  little  twelvemonth  agn  he  denounced  as  the  pander  of 
public  discontent  and  popular  fury.  Pitt  is  at  variance  with 
all  his  old  colleagues  except  Diindas,  and  even  with  Harry  he 
has  had  little  correspondence  ft)r  a  long  while  back.  Those  who 
wish  well  to  the  country  have  this  to  console  them,  that  things 
cannot  possibly  be  worse  than  they  are  at  present,  though  God 
help  us  if  the  French  are  able  to  effect  a  landing.  Our  means 
of  defence  would  be  miserably  directed,  and  these  means  are  by 
no  means  adequate.  The  army  of  reserve  has  turned  out  very 
ill,  and  the  recruiting  for  the  regulars  docs  not  now  supply  deaths 
and  desertions.  As  to  the  efficiency  of  the  volunteei's  I  am  quite 
incompetent  to  judge.  It  ai)pears  to  me  that  if  they  are  led  on 
with  proper  spirit  they  may  overwhelm  the  enemy,  but  the 
slaughter  previously  must  hi)  horrible.  Upon  the  volunteers, 
such  as  they  are,  the  country  nuist  chiefly  rely  for  its  safety. 
The  present  conjuncture  is  so  favorable  to  Bonaparte  that  if  he  docs 
not  instantly  make  the  attempt  I  shall  believe  that  he  never  meant 
anything  more  than  to  frighten  us.  I  am  sadly  tired  of  soldier- 
ing. I  would  march  to  the  coast  in  case  of  necessity  with  great 
cheerfuh^ess,  but  it  is  very  teasing  to  lose  so  much  time  and  to 
be  put  to  so  much  trouble  for  no  purpose.  The  expense  too  is 
very  considerable.  There  is  constantly  something  wanted  and 
something  to  pay  for. 

The  wants  of  your  government,  I  fear,  will  soon  be  pressing 
enough.  The  Mahratta  war  is  not  at  all  relished  in  England. 
I  hope  in  God  there  is  no  danger  of  your  being  taken  from 
Contai  to  be  sent  into  the  field,  where  you  would  acquire  neither 
profit  nor  glory. 


18U4.] 


CMANUE   IN   THE  CABINKT. 


140 


Lincoln  n  Inn,  April  24,  1804. 

Dear  Gkokob: —  .  .  .  Tmnqulllity  will  before  this  have 
been  restored  in  Iiuliu.  Greut  uiieuMiu(>.s.s  prevailed  here  upon 
the  news  of  General  Wellealoy's  vletory  of  the  23d  of  September, 
but  the  splendid  suecesses  which  followed  socin  quite  d(!ei.sive. 
Whatever  grounds  the  Governor  may  have  had  in  entering  into 
the  war,  he  has  certainly  conducted  it  with  great  vigor  and  ability. 
Most  people  wen.' disposed  to  condemn  him  while  things  remained 
doubtful,  but  he  will  now  be  judged  by  the  event.  I  wish  we 
had  a  man  of  his  enterprise  to  cope  with  Bouapai'te  at  home. 
However,  thank  GcmI,  we  are  at  last  likely  to  get  rid  of  the 
misenible  drivellers  who  have  disgraced  themselves  and  the 
country  for  three  years  past.  Before  this  reaiihes  you,  you  will 
have  heard,  I  trust,  of  a  complete  cliange  in  the  Cabinet.  All 
th(!  different  parties  of  Opposition  have  combined  against  the 
poor  Doctor.  I  know  not  what  kind  of  a  Ministiy  is  to  be 
formed  out  of  such  a  heterogeneous  mixture,  but  we  must 
exchange  for  the  better.  For  the  weakness  and  distraction  that 
at  present  palsy  our  energies  we  have  some  (sonsolation  in  the 
atrocities  and  follies  of  which  Bonaj)arte  is  guilty  at  Paris. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  April  2»i,  1804. 

My  deau  Fathek  : —  ...  1  do  not  hear  that  the  new  Cabinet 
has  been  yet  arranged.  It  .seems  to  me  that  IMtt  and  Fox  must 
necessarily  come  in  together.  Pitt  is  pledged  to  the  Grenvilles 
and  the  Grenvilles  are  pledged  to  Fox.  Young  Mansfield,  the 
son  of  the  new  Chief  Justitje  of  the  Common  Pleas,  .says  that 
when  his  father  went  to  be  knighted  the  King  appeared  quite 
rational  and  tiilked  sensibly  to  him  on  a  great  variety  of  topics. 
I  understand,  however,  that  at  times  he  is  still  as  bad  as  ever,  so 
that  he  is  not  allowed  to  associate  with  his  family. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  May  16, 1804. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  .'suppose  you  would  be  a  good 
deal  disappointed  at  the  turn  which  things  took  upon  the  Doctor's 
defeat,  although  I  (with  my  *  accustomed  sagacity ')  had  pointed 


150 


LIFE  OP  LOnn  CAMPIIELL. 


[180-1. 


out  to  you  whut  was  Hkoly  to  l>ui)i)cn.*  Tin*  jkhm'  King  who  is 
HO  severely  consurwl  is  HupiKWdd.  to  have  Imhmi  quite  piiMHive  u|)()n 
the  oecasion.  Tin-  Queen  and  the  Duke  of  York  were  at  the 
bottom  of  the  intrigue.  Making  (!verv  allowance  for  I'itt's  vast 
parliuinentary  tak>nt.s,  and  likewise  foi>  the  hahii  of  obedience 
which  the  House  of  ConunouH  has  not  yet  f(»rgotten,  I  do  not 
Hve  how  he  is  to  go  on  long.  What  can  he  do?  Neither,  1  fear, 
make  an  honorable  peace,  or  wu'ry  on  a  gloiious  war.  The  con- 
stant cry  will  be,  'How  nuich  better  it  would  liave  Ikjcu  had  Mr. 
Fox  been  admitte<l  into  the  Cabinet!'  Tlu;  Oppofiitiou  will  bo 
powerful,  and  so  much  is  Dundiis  hated  in  tlie  House  of  liords, 
ami  Hawkesbury  despised,  that  Lord  Grenville  will  l)c  able  to 
dispute  every  inch  of  ground  with  them.  Pitt,  perhaps  thinks 
he  will  gradually  strengthen  his  party  as  he  did  at  the  iK'giiuiing 
of  his  former  Administration ;  but  he  forgets  that  the  King  is  in 
the  most  cquivoc^il  slate  of  health,  and  that  the  heir  apparent  is 
his  declarc<l  enemy.  I  have  heard  that  the  Prince  of  Wales 
means  to  send  a  caution  to  the  Privy  Council  to  take  care  what 
tliey  do,  and  that  he  is  determined  to  take  some  bold  step  to 
ascertain  the  degree  of  the  King's  insjuiity.  Were  you  not 
shocked  at  the  manner  in  wliich  the  old  man  was  tor  several  days 
trundled  about  the  streets  of  London?  The  eflect  [U'oduced  wjis 
directly  contrary  to  that  intended.  The  truth  I  believe  is  that 
at  times  he  is  as  rational  as  ever  he  was  in  his  life,  but  that  on 
some  occasions  he  is  as  ma<l  as  a  March  hare. 


il 


I 


Lincoln's  Inn,  May  17,  1804. 

My  dear  Geohge  : —  ...  You  desire  me  to  give  you  some 
notion  of  special  plectdinf/.  It  is  the  business  of  the  special 
pleader  to  draw  all  the  written  proceedings  in  a  suit  at  law. 
First,  the  declaration,  whi(!}i  contains  a  statement  of  the  causfe 


*  At  the  end  of  .^pril  Addin^ton  liad  resigned,  and  on  May  10,  Pitt  resumorl 
the  seals  of  office.  The  King  having  refused  to  agree  to  Mr.  Fox  being  in  the 
Cabinet,  Pitt  was  obliged  to  form  the  Administration  without  the  assiBtance 
of  Lord  Grenville  and  his  party. — See  Stsahope's  Life  of  Pitt,  vol.  iv.  pp. 
164-195.— Ed. 


1804.] 


HPKCIAL   Pl.EAmNO. 


161 


of  action,  or  the  injury  of  which  the  pliuniKV  complains:   that 
the  defendant  hns  wchiced  his  wife;   has  trcspasHc*!  upon  his 
land;  has  given  him  a  heating;  has  Hold  him  ini  unsound  Iiorm, 
&c.     Next  (ron)cs  the  ph-a,  setting  forth  tlie  defendant's  answer, 
wlio  says  that  he  is  nt)t  guilty,  or  that  the  land  is  his  own,  or 
that  the  plaintitl'  made  the  fiixt  assiudt,  or  that  ho  did  not  war- 
rant the  horse  as  soiuid,  &c.     The  rcpficdtlou,  the  rcJoimJer,  &c., 
contains  what  each  party  has  to  allege,  till  at  hust  the^  take  issue 
upon  sonw!  point  of  fact  and  the  cause  is  suhmitted  to  a  jury.    If 
it  is  thought  that  what  is  stated  in  the  (hrfuratioit,  though  true, 
would  not  be  surtioient  in  law  to  sustain  an  action,  or  in  the  plea 
to  establish  a  d(^ fence,  then  tlu!re  Is  a  demurrer,  and  the  cause  is 
decided  by  the  judges.     There  is  the  nu)st  scrupulous  nicety  re- 
quired In  these  proceedings.     For  instiuice,  there  are  different 
kinds  of  actions,  as  assumpsit,  detinue,  trespass,  case,  &c.     The 
difficulty  Is  to  know  which  of  those  to  bring,  for  It  seldom  hap- 
pens that  more  than  one  of  them  will  lie.     There  Is  still  more 
difficulty  in  the  defence,  to  know  what  is  a  good  justification  and 
how  it  ought  to  be  pleadal,  to  be  sure  that  you  always  suit  the 
nature  of  the  defence  to  the  nature  of  tlic  action,  and  to  take 
advantage  of  any  defect  on  the  oj)poslte  side.     Special  pleaders 
In  general  are  not  at  the  bar.     One  or  two  who  remain  pleaders 
permanently  are  considered  as  something  between  attorneys  and 
barristers,  but  the  common  way  is  for  a  young  man  to  plead  a 
few  years  under  the  bar,  as  they  call  it,  before  being  called.     It 
Is  easier  to  get  this  kind  of  business  tha.i  briefs  In  the  court,  and 
you  thus  gradually  form  and  extend  your  connections.     This  is 
a  very  bad  plan  for  the  profession  ;  in  the  first  place,  the  special 
pleaders  take  much  lower  fees  than  if  they  were  at  the  bar,  and 
thus  carry  away  a  great  deal  of  business;  and  in  the  next  i)lace, 
by  continuing  in  this  low  illiberal  drudgery  so  long,  their  minds 
arc  contracted  and  they  are  mere  (piibblers  all  their  lives  after. 
Tidd  is  a  man  of  very  low  origin.     He  was  clerk  to  an  eminent 
man  in  this  line,  and,  his  master  dying,  he  set  up  for  himself. 
He  has  a  very  clear  head  and  has  always  paid  great  attention  to 
business,  so  that  he  has  for  a  considerable  number  of  years  been 


162 


I.IFi:  Ol"    1^)111)   (AMI'IIKI.I.. 


L1H04. 


■I 


by  far  the  flrat  mun  in  lim  hrtiiicli  of  tli(>  profcsHioii.  Mo  puln 
Iwhetl  a  Pmctico  of  the  Court  of  King's  JJt'nch,  which  hiM  |mmm>(I 
tlirough  Hovcrul  (Mlitions  an«l  gain«'<l  him  Iiigh  crlrhrity.  Hi; 
niukcH  Ix'twwn  X'2()()0  and  il.'lOOO  ti  y<'ur,  luul  <I(M'm  !iot  H\mul 
more  than  jC2(X)  or  X'AOO.  \\v.  lives  in  a  Muiall  hon.- ;  near  Vaiix- 
hall  in  a  iniM>ral>l(>  way  with  a  ninglc  niai<l  servant.  Of  pnpilH 
ho  hiiH  constantly  from  eight  to  twelve.  He  takes  very  little 
pains  with  them,  and  is  very  indillerent  ahont  tin*  progress  they 
make.  He  comes  about  one  o'clock,  says  *  How  d'ye  do?'  as  he 
passes  into  his  own  room,  remains  there  till  four  or  tive,  correct- 
ing what  has  been  drawn,  nods  to  any  straggler  who  is  still 
remaining,  and  returns  to  Vauxhall  for  the  day.  His  ofliee, 
however,  for  a  man  really  desirous  and  determine<l  to  improve 
himself,  is  in  my  mind  by  far  the  best  in  liondon.  You  see  here 
such  a  quantity  an<l  such  a  variety  of  business  that  you  may  learn 
more  in  six  months  than  by  reading  or  hearing  lectures  for  seven 
years.  I  have  not  been  throughout  eipially  steady,  but  I  reflect 
upon  my  exertions  since  I  entered  without  disssitisfaction.  From 
having  read  a  little  b(>fore  and  been  pretty  industrious  since,  I 
really  know  more  of  the  matter  than  those;  who  have  l)een  there 
for  a  year  or  two.  Perhaps  this  mode  of  talking  may  confirm 
you  in  a  very  o'd  and  often  re(!orde<l  opinion  of  yours,  that  I  am 
very  conceited;  but  heaven  knows  the  boast  is  a  pool*  one,  and  I 
pretend  to  nothing  which  a  man  of  common  parts  may  not  attain 
by  assiduity  in  the  same  period. 

...  I  shall  probably  try  and  get  duunbers  at  Christmas  in 
the  Temple  and  i)ractic(!  a  twelvemonth  as  a  pleader  on  my  own 
bottom.  I  know  that  I  should  not  earn  as  much  as  would  pay 
half  a  quarter's  rent.  The  high  rent  of  chambers  is  a  most  for- 
midable thing  for  a  begimier  like  me.  You  can't  get  a  set 
anjurnhihcd  fit  for  business  under  £50  a  year.  I  am  sure  you 
are  now  sjitiated.  I  shall  try  to  remember  constantly  your  pre- 
cept of  *  Push  on.*  You  must  not  be  by  any  means  sanguine, 
but  I  again  promise  steady  application  and  all  the  spirit  I  can 
possibly  command.     *  DU  ccctera  credam.' 

The  war  bears  very  hard  upon  me ;  volunteering,  income-tax, 


1  ■■ 


1804.] 


NI.W  ADMISrsTHATION    INDRU   PITT. 


loa 


window-tux  riUMcd,  &c.  I  \n\y  my  wity  and  have  everything  I 
want  (>x(*e])t  hiw-l)<)okH.  I  ^<ll()llld  re<|uire  X50  for  thirt  article, 
and  HO  much  I  nhull  lie  able  to  H[)are  \{'  I  get  XKK)  frotii  yon  l>y 
tlie  end  of  the  year. 

Yon  »in't  imagine  thcdiriiippointnient  felt  by  the  |M!o|)le  when 
the  hoi>e  vaninhed  of  a  united  and  vigoroun  A<hniniHtration. 
ThingH  went  on  pretty  well  till  Dundas  arriv«Hl  from  S<'otland, 
who  Hiiw  that  if  all  partieH  were  to  1m.>  iiiclud(!<l  his  nhare  of  tho 
(»uulle-ends  would  Im)  comparatively  Hmall.  His  diKponition  to 
miwhief  wius  .seconde<l  by  a  corresponding  disposition  in  the  Court. 
The  poor  King  is  supposed  to  have  remained  nearly  paKsive. 
lie  was  worked  n|H)n  by  the  Ciucj'ti  and  tlii^  Duke  of  Y«>rk.  This 
is  supposed  to  Ikj  the  circuiiislancc!  which  has  ho  enraged  the 
Prinw  and  made  him  step  forward  as  tlieavowcil  head  of  Oppo- 
sition. The  Oppusiticm  will  1h'  most  formidable  indeed,  and  in 
the  eqnivoi'al  state  of  the  King's  health  I  do  not  see  that  Pitt 
ciui  stand  long.  lie  certainly  proposed  to  bring  in  Fox,  but 
yielde<l  very  easily  to  the  royal  st^ruples.  If  he  had  studied  his 
own  glory  he  woidd  have  rcl'nsed  to  (!onie  in  unless  Fox  was 
admitted  along  with  him.  Do  not  think  I  speak  the  language 
of  the  party  lu'cause  I  write  in  the  *  Chronicle.'  I  am  much 
more  with  the  Pittites.  I  express  the  s(!ntiments  of  the  public 
and  of  Mr.  Pitt's  best  friends.  There  never  was  such  a  sot  of 
ragamufHns  as  he  has  collected  around  him.  From  the  noble 
conduct  of  tlie  Grenvilles  it  was  long  before  he  could  get  his 
ranks  filled  up  at  all,  and  many  of  the  fattest  offices  under  the 
Crown  had  to  go  a-begging.  Ih)  is  aftcn*  all  forced  to  make  a 
piece  of  patchwork  with  the  Doctorlans,  whom  a  little  month 
ago  he  denoun(!cd  in  the  mass  as  an  assemblage  of  drivellers. 
Lonl  Ciistlereagh  remains  at  the  head  of  the  India  Board.  It 
was  said  for  some  days  that  your  old  friend  the  Duke  of  Mon- 
trose was  to  go  as  Lord-Lieutenant  to  Ireland,  but  the  rumor 
now  is  that  he  is  to  be  made  Postmaster-General  and  President 
of  the  Board  of  Trade.  Dundas  is  the  man  who  gives  away 
everything.  He  rules  Pitt,  and  is  thus  the  first  man  in  England. 
He  has  made  his  nephew  William,  an  arrogant,  empty  coxcomb, 


iO  I 


Ml'K  Ml'    LOIII)  fAMl'lii;i.I.. 


[ISO  I. 


8«'«'rohiry  at  NVur.  'riu'<li.s;;ii.<(  (lum  ^ivfn  to  tlu'  oM  uri.HtiH'rm'y 
of  till-  <'iinti{ry  i"t  |)riKli;;ii>iiM,  T/u'  Lnnl*  im  yo\\  vi\\\  liiin,  will  Im- 
well  itlciiMi'tl  to  Hcc  his  oitl  iViciMlM  ill  power  a^iuii.  It  in  uri«l('i'Nto<M| 
that  tli(>  Doctor  hail  r<'H(ilv(><|  to  recall  hini.  How  h<>  iiiiist  haw 
de.'<j)i.s«'<l  the  Doctor!  A  niuii  ol'  IiIh  (liM<'cri»iiieiit,  vi;;or  and 
onterj)ri«'  «m  havo  no  voiy  profountl  reniMM't  ovon  for  the  |MMllar 
politician,  Lonl  Melville,  the  niithor  of  thu  expcdilioiiM  to  Ut. 
Domingo,  Ilolliunl  and  Fctrol.  Tiieru  huM  tM>en  a  ituuor  alnuit 
pi'ace  for  two  davH,  I  ixliev*'  withont  the  HrnallcMt  fonndation. 
iJonapartc,  the  new  Knipcror,  has  raided  u  hi^h  dcj^reo  of  intlig- 
nation  at  the  Conrt  of  Russia  l>y  his  manifold  outrages,  hut  such 
\a  the  uidiappy  state;  of  things  at  home  that  no  advantage  can  Ih> 
taken  of  it.  F^et  I'itt  act  how  he  will,  he  [i^  M\n\  to  Ik!  opposed, 
and  we  can  look  forwanl  to  uoihiii";  hut  u  scries  of  Parliamentary 
tMpir.hltlcH  and  of  national  tlivisions. 

T  seu'l  you  the  seventh  uumU'r  of  lh(>  *  Kdinhurgh  Review.' 
.  .  .  The  *  E.  R.*  seems  to  mo  to  fall  off,  hut  it  hat*  still  a  high 
character  and  a  wide  cireidation.  They  have  heon  obliged  to 
puhlisli  a  s('(;ond  edition  of  some  (tf  the  numbei-s.  I  have  nn't 
JetlVey,  Brougham  ajid  Horner,  the  comhictoi's,  several  times  in 
London.  They  are  very  ch'vcr  men  ;  the  two  latter  arc  coming 
to  th(>  English  bar. 

Lincoln'ii  Inn,  Juae  \f>,  1HU4. 

My  deau  ItuoTiiKR: —  .  .  .  Know  that  I  leave  Lincoln's 
Inn  at  Michaelmas.  1  know  not  whether  I  liave  acted  judieii- 
ously.  I  have  no  mortal  to  consult  with ;  and  I  um  left  ou 
points  the  most  important  for  my  liiture  welfare  to  the  sugges- 
tions of  njy  own  anxious,  hesitjiting,  unsatiHtiable  mind.  An 
ac(|uaintan(;e  toM  me  he  was  about  to  (put  a  set  of  clauubers 
very  well  situated  ior  business,  and  extremely  ehe^ip.  As  I  had 
been  thiid<ing  for  some  time  of  trying  what  I  could  do  as  a 
s()ecial  pleader  uiwin  the  expiration  of  my  year  with  Tidd,  it 
seemed  that  these  chambers  would  suit  me  to  a  T.  Upon  cxam- 
ininiQ;  them  (though  they  are  dark  and  not  very  elegant)  I  found 


*  Miirquih  Wollonlfjy,  Qovernor-Qonfiral  of  India. 


1804.] 


TAK1»  (IIAMIlKltM   IN  Till:  TKMPI.K. 


lAO 


tluMi)  iv*  ^^iuA  w  I  i-iiitM  i-x|H<(!t  at  the  rent.  They  am  on  th«) 
i)i*Ht  ll<>or,  tuitMiHi  ot'  two  Hittiti<j-rtH>inH  niid  a  \A\uv.  in  wliich  n 
Niiiall  l»c'tl  may  Im-  [itii  tip;  aiui  im  to  toiui/i-  arc  <|uit(>  iw  i^rKNl  an 
If  1  |>aitl  100  nuiiMiiM  a  y«iir  for  tli(!m.  Thv  foriiHT  ttnant  hail 
flu'in  at  t'iU  'w.  Tli'.-y  arc  rainwl  now  t<t  C'2H.  Tuxom,  £1. 
lint  then  is  a  imwt  foriiiidablt!  tliiiijr  uti<lcr  tlir  tiatiicof  lixtiirrM. 
Tln'  (iii|M'tM,  winilow-ciirtaiiis,  ntovcs,  ttr,,  arc  IrCl  in  the  chain- 
Imts,  an<l  (licMc  I  must  pnn'lia.sc  at  a  valnation.  I  Ulii'vc  they 
will  '-uiiK!  to  near  X"20.  I)iirin;;  iIm*  year  of  my  pli'tuiiTsliip  I 
prol)iil)ly  hhall  not  earn  IOn.  Hut  I  lidicvf  it  wouI<l  l>c  coiiMidcrHi 
iiH  pnulcnt  to  inakc  tlu!  attempt ;  ami  I  ^<llolll(l  have  Ix-cn  dis- 
Hati.^fied  witli  myself  to  an  nncommon  decree  ii  I  had  lei  this 
opportunity  slip  of  enaliliu}^  myself  to  open  HJinp.  I  hold  my 
el)aml)ers  in  Jiincoln'.s  Inn  till  Christmiu',  i>nt  I  daro  say  I  shall 
easily  lind  a  tenant  before  MichaelmaH,  I  am  very  ^Ind  that  for 
three  years  paMt  I  have  been  here  instiiul  of  in  l(«ljjinjrs.  1 
have  now  done  all  my  nine  exen^isos,  ami  1  need  not  enter  the 
Hall  again  till  the  daiy  I  am  f)alled.  My  address  henceforth 
will  Im!  5,  Inner  Temple  Lane. 

All  thoughts  of  invasion  are  now  absorlx'd  in  domestic;  politieH. 
.  .  .  The  King  remains  mueh  the  simie — rather  (piietor,  but  not 
to  l)e  relied  upon.  When  the  liOi-d  Chancellor  was  .si>nt  for,  ho 
took  him  out  to  walk  on  the  terrace.  I  know  for  an  nndonlit(>d 
faet  that  after  they  had  proceeded  a  litth;  way  and  a  sentry  had 
presented  arms,  his  Majesty  ran  up,  sh(»ok  him  by  the  hand,  said, 
'How  d'ye  do,  gcsnend,' and  bcg:ni  to  talk  with  hin  upon  the 
means  of  repelling  the  invasion.  Tli(>  IMiifc  of  Wales  continues 
to  thr(»w  out  threats,  but  he  is  so  ncio'  biuting  Pitt  in  Parliament 
that  he  will  not  probably  call  tor  any  piddic  investigation.  He 
gives  grand  dinners  twic(^  a  week  to  all  tin;  mend»ers  (tf  both 
houses  who  are  on  his  side.  Lord  Hrcailalbane  was  one  of  the 
party  on  Sunday  laf>.t.  I'itt  has  not  yet  b<'en  able  to  prevail 
U|M)n  any  one  to  go  as  Lord-Lieutenant  to  Ireland.  .  .  . 

1  have  gocKl  accounts  from  Cupar  .  .  I  really  think  that  in 
a  situation  where  there  was  any  stimulus  to  ambition  our  father 
would  have  made  a  very  great  figure.     Considering  where  and 


too 


I. IKK  ttV    l.o|(|>  «  AMI'IIKI.I,. 


[1804 

with  wlinrii  Ih>  hib4  livitl,  it  in  (|iiitc  iiHtniiixliiii)^  to  find  liirn  md 
much  a  tiiiui  of  IvtU'n.  An  to  hir*  iNilihiuHH,  hin  ({iiith'inaiity 
tnaiincrM, ami  hin  kiiowltil^iMit' th<'\vorl«l,  thty  cxai-t  my  wurnioHt 
aihnimtion.  I  not  only  Invi'  my  father,  hut  I  am  \uniu\  of  him. 
Myopiiiiou  in  not  tht;  ii'Hiilt  ofchilih^h  piijudicc,  hut  iH  fount  htl 
on  oliMvrvatiou  an«l  rontirinnl  hy  my  «>x|H'fi(>ui'«>  amonj^  mankintl. 


M 


I.ioculn'ii  Inn,  AukukI  1',  \iH)i. 

My  DKAit  Fatiiku: —  ...  1  am  ^hul  to  hear  that  you 
havo  \hh!U  pniuhin^  ho  vi^orouMly.  Heating;  tho  cUHhioii  in 
gtxnl  uxorciHi!,  and  tht;  hin^s  nuist  Im;  athnirahly  wrll  vt'Utilat<il 
in  an  haran^^uc  of  our  hour  uiid  j'nrlif  iiiiimfiM.  I  never  had 
tho  U'wt  fear  for  your  |)o|iuhirity,  and  it  wti.'^  \ty  no  meanrt 
with  a  view  to  this  thai  I  humhiy  talked  to  you  of  rewritiu); 
u  few  of  youi'  HermouH.  1  Ixilieve  that  taking  the  eoiiiiiitniity 
ut  large,  you  have  In-en,  and  J  make  no  douht  will  rontimie, 
more  generally  relir^hcti  than  almiMt  any  clergyman  in  the 
riynml — *Pi'iiuoirM  itoini/i  (in-!/)iiH  jK^pitfaiiuiiu  trihiUlm.'*  .  .  . 
lio  under  no  apia'ehen.^ions  from  hpeei.d  pleading.  Mr.  I'itt 
huH  Haved  me  trom  the  perils  of  eti^y  ol)H<uirity.  In  tlie 
new  Htiunp  Act  there  i.s  a  elau.te  that  no  one  nhall  praetieu 
OH  a  Hpeeial  |)leader  without  paying  £10  a  year.  This  is  u 
most  o|)pressive  and  ini(|uitoiis  tax.  It  would  he  «piite  as  fair 
to  say  that  a  carpenter  or  a  hricklayer  should  not  exercise  his 
industry  without  a  li«'cMse.  Attorneys  are  (|uite  a  dillercnt  clash, 
and  with  them  a  distinction  is  made  hetween  beginners  and  those 
cstahlished  in  husiness.  There  are  few  young  men  that  make  XlO 
iluriiig  the  lirst  year  of  their  practice.  For  my  own  share,  1  shall 
not  think  of  t4iking  out  the  license.  Although  twelvt;  months 
will  not  ela|»se  hetwci-n  the  time  of  my  Itjaving  Ti(hl  and  the 
tiujc  when  1  may  l)e  called  to  the  har,  1  believe  the  period  is  iu 
two  parliamentjuy  years,  so  that  1  should  pay  £20,  and  probably 
not  receive  20t/,  I  liave  been  advised  to  practice  below  the  bar 
for  u  uumlxjr  of  yeai-s.    A»  I  havo  some  of  the  (jUuliHcatious  of 


♦  Horace,  Sat.  ii.  i.  69. 


IHOt.] 


TAX   ON   NPfX'IAI.   IM.I'.AUINO. 


167 


till*  pln^lifrr  ulxiiit  rii«*,  I  rciilly  U'licvi)  that  I  ini^lit  in  tiiiii!  hik>- 
cttil  ill  tliix  wiiy,  i'lit  it  l>y  no  ini*iiiiN  MiilH  my  indiiiiition.  Till 
I  mil  lit  till'  Ihii'  my  I'ticr^irM  will  ni'vcr  liuvtv  fair  m*«»|m>  ^ivcn 
tlioin.  I  am  not  t<HtliMli  t>iiiii|H||i  tn  cxiM-i't  any  laiMinrMH  for  a 
iiuiiiInt  of  yi'ai-H,  Imt  l»y  iinhitlnity  iiimI  iHTf^rvrniiuT  m»'ii  with  iw 
|MM»r  |»rof»|M'«'trt  tin  myi""'!''  \tt\\t>  ri.-tcn  l»y  (l«'(i;ri<'«  to  lln'  hi^hcNt 
hoiKH'M  nt'  tlio  |ii'i)t<'H'4iiMi.  I  «-iiiili'KH  tliirt  tax  liiH  vt'xnl  me  a 
^mmI  drill.  I  had  laUi'ii  ('IiiiiiiImth  tor  (h«<  cxprci^H  |)iii'|h>h<!  of 
lM'y;iiitiiiiji;  Imsiiw.'M  at  the  new  ytai*,  in  the  hojH'ora  littlo  niicfnui 
of  ('oiin<>«'tion  t<>rmin]{  itxclf  ilnriii^  tlif  tliitHi  t'ollowin^  tcrriiN, 
I  nliall  thiH  Im«  |)iit  to  Hdiif  rx[M'ii«*«'  for  no  |)ni|MW(',  and  wry 
liki'ly  whi'ii  I  am  called  lollic  har  I  may  not  have  a  halt-guinea 
motion  for  hw  months. 

I  do  not  think  of  movin;^  out  of  town  cvon  for  a  hin^lu  day 
during  the  |U'c.m(>iiI  vacation.  S'a-hathin;;  would  Im>  very  plcti- 
Miiit,  an<l  I  mIiouM  not  have  the  Hli^^htcHt  olijcctioii  to  cxchango 
the  noi.se  and  smoke  of  liondoii  for  the  Holitiidc  of  W(mmI.m  or  the 
gaieties  <  (fa  fa>*hioiial>h'  water!  n;;-i>lace.  IJiit  to  an  <'.\cursion  of 
thirt  kind  there  are  Home  ohstaclen.  In  the  lirht  place  tli<'  cx|H.>nHC 
Ih  coiiHideriUile,  and  at  Michaclman  I  hliall  have  occaHion  for  all 
the  money  I  c^ui  muster.  What  weighs  with  me  Htill  mure,  I 
Mhouhl  lose  some  wei'ks  of  the  dcar-lMUight  year  at  Tidil'H.  Con- 
sider that  1  pay  alKxit  7m.  a  day  for  the  run  of  liis  odlee.  At 
present  very  little  Imsiiiess  comes  in,  but  almost  all  the  pupils 
have  r(!tire<l  to  tlu;  country  except  myself,  and  1  find  Homething 
iinproviii];^  to  do  every  morning.  T  shall  work  hard  to  complete 
my  set  of  precedents;  and  I  am  not  without  hopes  of  being  of 
use  to  Tid«l — a  man  always  ready  to  rccjuile  favors.  lie  is  pul)- 
lishing  a  book  just  now  for  which  1  translated  him  a  few  Latin 
records,  and  he  is  to  present  me  with  a  coi»y  of  it.  The  summer 
will  soon  slide  away.  I  keei>  my  health  perfectly,  and  have  yet 
Hullered  very  little  from  the  heats.  The  theatres  open  in  Septem- 
ber and  will  bring  me  an  accession  of  business  and  amusement. 
The  scene  will  then  change  from  Lincoln's  Iini  to  the  Temple, 
juid  I  shall  not  have  a  moment  for  languor  or  ennui. 

I  urn  delighted  to  heur  of  the  araouut  of  your  uugmcntatioD. 


158 


IJKK  OK    \.<t\W  <!AMl'HKI,T,. 


[1804. 


Yoli  may  find  soine  diffifulty  in  collecting  it  from  tho  little 
heritors,  whoso  interest  unlTcrH  by  this  infamous  delay  as  much  as 
your  own.  Good  Tiod !  the  alteration  scctns  a  thinj^  that  might  be 
done  in  half  an  hour!  The  forms  of  the  Scot.-;  hv,v  are  all  had  ! 
It  would  he  a  liappy  (hing  for  Scotland  if  her  courts  of  justice 
were  all  new  modelled,  and  instead  of  the  liftecn  (iorrupt  old 
wives  that  now  do/c  in  the  Court  of  Sessions,  two  or  three  good 
lawyers  and  honest  men  were  sent  down  from  England.  There 
is  seldom  such  a  thing  here  as  a  man  being  raised  to  the  bench 
for  liis  parliamentary  interest,  and  the  integrity  of  a  ju<1ge  for  a 
century  has  not  been  Htispected.  Indeed  it  is  the  pure  and  expe- 
ditious administration  of  justice  that  chiefly  distinguishes  England 
from  Scotland,  France  and  other  despotic  c(»untries  in  Europe. 
'A  very  pretty  insinuation!'  But  according  to  the  Lord  Advo- 
cate's statement  (in  which  he  is  supported  by  tli(!  nation  itself) 
he  is  altogether  as  absolute  as  the  Emperor  Napoleon,  and  I  do 
believe  that  there  is  at  this  moment  more  liberty  of  opinion  in 
Paris  than  in  Edinburgh.  .  .  . 

Politicians  are  completely  absorbed  in  the  Middlesex  election.* 
I  wish  success  with  all  my  heart  to  Sir  F.  Burdett.  It  is  only 
by  the  recurrence  of  such  struggles  that  the  spirit  of  liberty  can 
be  kept  alive  in  this  country  and  the  Constitution  preserved. 
How  are  you  to  get  unex('e]>tional)le  men  who  will  throw  away 
their  money  and  head  the  rabble?  Wilkes  was  a  most  uni)rin- 
cipled  miscireant,  but  he  did  a  great  deal  of  good.  There  ought 
to  be  a  mixture  of  such  men  as  Burdett  in  the  Senate  to  balance 
the  thorough -paced  courtiers.  It  is  absurd  to  think  that  as  onr 
government  consists  of  three  branches,  the  attachments  of  every 
citizen  arc  to  be  equally  divided  between  them,  and  each  should 
show  himsclt  third  part  a  democrat,  third  part  an  aristocrat,  and 
third  part  a  lover  ox  monarc}>v.  I  have  no  objection  to  Tories 
and  High  Churchmen,  and  I  think  at  the  same  time  there  ought 
to  be  republicans  and  dissenters.     The  issue  of  the  contest  at 


*  The  candidalofl  were  Mainwaring  and  Sir  Francis  Burdett.  The  poll  lasted 
fifteen  daj's,  and  closed  on  August  8.  Mainwaring  2828,  Burdett  2823 — 
majority  for  Afainwaring  5. — Ed 


1804.] 


LIGUTINQ   BY  O^VS. 


159 


Brontt'oril  id  still  considered  oxtnitiioly  doubtful.  Mini.stcrs  I 
should  su}<[»o,sc  will  not  rtjoii'c  nnich  in  tlioir  expcriiuL'nt  upon 
the  poor  Kin^jj.  It  was  quite  inipo.s-sihlc!  for  anyone  who  knew 
what  he  was  about  to  nuil-e  siu'b  a  blunder.  Indeed,  I  under- 
stand that  there  was  the  most  idiotii;  vaeuity  in  his  countenance, 
and  that  he  read  the  speech  like  a  schoolboy  reading  in  a  lan- 
guage he  does  not  understand.* 


Lincoln's  Inn,  August  12,  1S04. 

My  deau  Buotheu  : —  ...  I  was  one  night  lately  at  an 
exhibition  that  pleased  me  a  good  dciul.  A  large  theatre  was 
most  brilliantly  illuminated  by  innainraable  air.  There  arc 
tubes  fixed  round  the  ceiling,  the  boxes,  and  the  stage,  sujjplied 
from  a  reservoir  below,  and  at  the  end  of  each  tu'oe  there  is  a 
very  vivid  and  steady  light.  The  man  pretends  to  extract  the 
gas  from  smoke,  together  with  large  (quantities  of  other  valuable 
products.  He  proposes  to  suj)ei-scde  the  use  both  of  coal-fires 
and  candles,  and  to  supply  every  house  in  London  with  this  gas 
in  the  same  manner  sis  they  are  now  supplied  with  water  from 
the  New  River  Company.  I  understand  he  is  merely  a  copier 
of  Le  Bon,  a  Frcinch  chemist,  who  abandoned  the  plan  as 
impracticable  and  absurd. y 


Lincoln's  Inn,  August  31, 1804. 

My  DEAU  Fat  J  IK  u; —  .  .  .  There  is  nothing  in  the  world 
of  which  I  should  bo  so  ambitious  as  oratory ;  but  you  consider- 
ably overrate  its  importuuee  at  the  English  bar.  In  addressing 
the  bench  you  nuist  strictly  confine  yourself  to  cases  and  Acts 
of  Parliament,  and  the  man  who  is  most  technical  is  heard  most 
favorably.  Few  now  ever  arrive  at  the  honor  of  addressing  a 
jury  in  ciiscs  of  importance,  and  scarcely  any  till  after  the  meri- 

*Tho  Ses!-ion  was  closed  on  July  31  by  a  Kpftoch  from  tho  King.  'His 
Majesty  read  the  speech  with  great  aninintion,  but  acciiientally  turned  over 
two  leaves  together,  ami  so  emitted  about  onG-fourlh  of  his  intended  speech.' 
— Stanhope's  Lije  oj  Pill,  vol.  iv.  p.  211. — Ed. 

f  Such,  in  1804,  was  the  beginning  of  gas  to  give  light  in  houses  and  streets. 


% 


V  ft; 

'  J/ 

'1- 


160 


LIFE  OP  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1804. 


|!H 


H 

* 

H^flj 

1  ;• 

IS 

IH 

1 

H 

•    ii 

^n^^ 

;     Si 

B|^H 

il  .1 

'  it    ■; 

^^■J^H 

^■■H 

'''    1 

fllH 

^K^M 

Ii 

diaii  of  life.  For  the  first  ten  or  fifteen  years  one  can  succeed 
only  from  a  knowledge  of  practice — being  able  to  tell  the  attor- 
neys when  they  nuwt  file  their  declarations,  and  knowing  Avhat 
is  a  good  sham  plea.  I  <lo  not  think  that  the  law  luus  at  present 
any  right  to  rank  its  a  lihoral  profession.  I  am  sure  I  should 
receive  as  much  general  improvement  in  making  shoos  as  from 
copying  precedents,  and  I  do  actually  know  several  men  in 
excellent  business  at  the  bar,  who  cannot  speak  upon  ordinary 
subjects  with  more  information  or  intelligence  than  u  common 
tradesman.  .  .  . 

.5  Inner  Tomplo  Lane,  September  30, 180i, 

My  DEAii  Father  : — I  should  sooner  have  answert'd  your 
»'ery  kind  letter  of  the  20th  had  I  not  been  for  some  days  amidst 
the  hurry  and  confusion  o^  jVdting.  \J\wi\  the  subject,  however, 
which  naturally  so  nmch  interests  you,  I  can  yet  say  nothing  to 
remove  your  anxiety.  None  of  the  regular  Bengal  ships  liave 
yet  arrived.  It  is  supposed  that  they  have  been  detained  at  St. 
Helena  for  want  of  convoy.  Though  it  is  a  cruel  thing  to  be 
cut  off  so  long  from  all  accounts  of  one  so  dear  to  us,  we  may 
console  ourselves  with  this,  that  we  could  not  have  heard 
sooner.  .  .  . 

I  was  much  gratified  a  day  or  two  ago  by  receiving  a  large 
sheet  filled  by  Lindsay  and  Magdalen,  the  one  addressing  mc  in 
good  p]nglish,  and  the  other  in  tolerable  French.  I  assure  you 
Lin  jiroinisos  to  turn  out  a  very  sprightly  correspondent,  ^^"^r 
thoughts  arc  natural,  lior  style  is  spirited,  and  some  cf  her  Li  ns 
are  very  i)retty.  She  gives  me  a  description  of  the  races  that 
would  shine  in  a  fashionable  novel,  and  her  remarks  upon  the 
Infant  Roscius  will  stand  me  in  good  stead  when  I  come  to  criti- 
cise the  performances  of  this  theatrical  phenomenon.  Mag  dis- 
plays her  usual  quickness  and  na'ivdi'.  As  a  means  of  learning 
the  language  it  may  be  of  greal  use  to  her  to  write  French  letters, 
but  iis  an  ultimate  object  writing  English  is  ten  thousand  times 
more  important.  One  of  the  most  improving  employments 
which  the  two  have  had  in  Edinburgh  I  do  believe  has  been  the 


1804.] 


NEaOTIATIONS  WITH  TIDD. 


161 


largo 


arc  yon 

TT-iv 

•OS  that 
)()n  tlio 
to  criti- 
I:ig  (lis- 
oarning 
letters, 
d  times 
r)yn)enta 
)een  the 


scribbling  of  the  long  epistles  that  yield  you  so  much  delight  on 
the  Saturday  evenings. 

I  have  to  inform  you  of  an  affair  that  must  have  a  most  mate- 
rial influence  one  way  or  another  upon  my  future  life.    As  I 
consider  it  as  favorable,  I  once  intended  not  to  mention  it  till 
the  arrival  of  news  from  Contai.    Just  now  3'ou  are  jjcrhaps  in- 
capable of  feeling  pleasure  from  anything  of  this  kind.     Tint 
what  I  am  going  to  state  may  amuse  your  iriipat'tnco  till  the 
long  expected  hour  arrives.     Instead  of  leaving  Tidd  in  a  few 
months,  I  am  to  remain  with  him  for  two  years  longer.    When 
I  undervalued  the  advantage  of  attending  the  office  after  the  flrat 
twelvemonth  had  expired,  it  arose  in  a  good  measure  from  not 
having  the  means.    I  perceived  that  I  should  then  be  much  at  a 
loss  what  to  do  with  myself,  and  that  I  should  be  called  to  the 
bar  without  i)roper  preparation,  an<l  without  any  professional 
connections.     Pitt's  Stamp  Act  had  deterred  me  from  the  plan 
of  setting  up  as  a  pleader,  and  the  continuation  of  the  war  left 
no  possibility  of  my  being  taken  to  the  Continent.    In  the  midst 
of  my  despondency  I  heard  that  Tidd  was  going  to  lose  the  young 
gentJeman  who  for  some  time  has  managed  his  business  for  him. 
The  youth's  name  is  Law&s ;  he  is  the  nephew  of  an  eminent  bar- 
rister, and  is  shortly  to  commence  business  for  himself  as  pleader. 
I  saw  that  Tidd  would  miss  him  exceedingly,  and  from  the  obli- 
ging expressions  he  had  often  used  to  me  I  thought  he  might 
perhaps  accept  of  me  to  sui)ply  his  place.    He  did  not  know  but 
that  I  was  possessed  of  some  fortune,  and,  of  course,  unless  the 
proposal  came  first  from  me  he  could  not  suppose  that  such  an 
arrangement  would  be  agreeable  to  me.     On  Thursday  evening 
last  I  therefore  wrote  him  a  letter  to  be  carried  over  to  him  by 
the  clerk,  making  a  tender  of  my  services  in  the  most  becoming 
manner  I  could,  and  saying  that  I  should  wait  upon  him  at  Lam- 
beth next  morning  to  see  whether  the  plan  met  with  his  appro- 
bation.   Having  never  hinted  at  my  intentions  to  any  living  soul, 
you  may  be  sure  I  felt  considerable  doubts  as  to  the  propriety  of 
ray  conduct,  and  frequent  misgivings  as  to  the  manner  in  which 
so  unlooked-for  an  offer  might  be  received.     When  I  walked 

VOL  I.  7* 


wr'i 


i 


162 


LIFE  OF  IX)RD  CAMPBE1.I-. 


[1804. 


HCi'oss  Blackfriiirs  Tiridgo  in  t\w.  morning  I  wiw  ready  to  ni'diw 
myself  of  nislincss  and  folly.  I  could  smrccly  muster  up  cour- 
age to  knock  at  the  door.  No  sooner  did  Tidd  appear,  how- 
ever, than  lie  put  my  trepidation  to  flight.  After  shaking  me 
heartily  by  the  hand,  he  said  he  had  read  my  letter  with 
the  sincerest  pleasure,  and  that  nothing  could  be  more  foitu- 
nate  for  him  than  my  inclination  to  stay  in  his  oflice.  He 
had  been  exceedingly  distressw"  t  the  prosj)C(!t  of  Lawes 
going  away,  but  that  his  mind  was  again  at  (^asc.  After 
talking  in  this  styh;  for  some  time,  he  said  if  I  stayed  barely 
another  year  that  I  should  leave  him  in  January  in  the  throng 
of  business,  that  he  was  a  nervous  fellow,  and  the  thought  of 
this  woidd  render  him  (piite  unhapjjy,  he  therefore  wished 
earnestly  that  I  would  i)roi  -.,.  (j,p  pcriml  for  six  months, 
which  would  carry  him  over  i.io  four  terms,  though  he  would 
by  no  means  force  any  conditions  upon  me  to  which  I  might 
be  averse,  I  answered  that  I  was  willing  to  mnke  a  con- 
siderable sacrifice  to  aoconmiodate  him,  but  that  I  was  rather 
old  for  one  of  my  standing,  and  that  I  wishe<l  to  begin  as 
soon  as  possible  to  do  something  for  myself.  I  believe  he 
had  before  glvcMi  me  a  hint  that  he  would  be  well  pleased  to 
remove  any  objections  I  might  feel  in  a  pecuniary  point  of 
view,  and  he;  now  plainly,  though  with  the  greatest  possible 
delicacy,  intimated  that  he  woidd  make  me  some  recompense 
for  my  trouble.  He  observed  that  he  had  been  wonderfully 
successful  in  life,  and  tJiut  he  was  now  disposed  to  look  to  com- 
fort more  than  money.  He  added  that  he  was  convinced  my 
remaining  in  his  office  the  time  ho  mentioned  would  be  for 
my  own  advantage  as  well  as  his;  he  was  sure  I  was  aware 
of  the  folly  of  young  men  getting  on  at  the  bar  merely  by 
their  abilities, — a  barrister  setting  out  without  connections  was 
like  an  attem])t  to  launch  a  shi}>  without  water;  by  c(mtinu- 
ing  in  the  office  I  should  become  acquainted  with  the  attor- 
neys, who  would  afterwards  requite  any  attention  I  showed 
them  ;  that  before  the  end  of  two  years  somerhing  might  happen 
to  him,  or  he  might  retire  frt)m  businass,  as  he  was  getting  more 


1804.] 


ENOAGKMENT    FOK   TWO    YKAHH. 


103 


tired  of  it  cvoiy  day.     lie  cohcUkUhI  by  saying  that  iu;  sliuuld 
not  call  upon  u\v  for  a  jioMitivo  answer  at  tliat  moment,  but 
requortted  that  I  v.ould  turn   tlie  matter  over  in  my  .mind,  and 
we  nhould  ,sub.s(?quently  vauw  to  an  agreciment.     After  he  had 
('onvers<'d  with  nie  about  an  hour  in  a  very  friendly  manner,  I 
took  my  leave.     As  I  walki'd  home  I  judged  that  it  would  be 
most  expedient  ut  omv  to  comply  with  liis  terms.     1  was  eon- 
vinced  there  was  truth  in  some  of  the  remarks  Ik;  had  made, 
and  it  seemed  fair  that,  if  he  k((pt  me  as  long  as  it  suited  my 
convenience,  he  should  insist  upon  keej)ing  me  a  little  longer  to 
suit  his  own ;  and  if  I  stayed  till  July  T  might  as  well  stay  to 
Novcmbei'.      Tlicrcforc,  ivlirn  Ive  eanu;  to  the  office  between  three 
and  four,  and  asked  if  I  had  yet  vu\w  to  any  conclusion  upon 
the  subject,  I  told  him  that,  if  he  consented  that  I  should  h(\ 
absent  for  a  f(!W  weeks  next  sununer,  I  was  willing  to  engage 
with  him  till  Michaermas  term  1806.     He  expi'cssed  great  satis- 
faction, and  hoped  I  should  never  have  retuson  to  repent  the  stej) 
I  had  taken.     About  the  year  I  had  (jtfered  to  stay,  he  observed 
he  should  say  nothing,  but  lie  could  not  think  of  interfering 
with  my  plans  without  making  nie  some  eompensiition,  and  as  it 
was  best  upon  such  subjects  to  be  explicit,  he  trusted  I  should 
think  it  worth  mv  v.hile  to  accept   of  £100.     I    iuade  manv 
acknowledgments  to  him  for  his  liberality,  and  tlie  matter  being 
finally  settled,  divers  fine  s})eeches  were  delivered  on  both  sides. 
The  whole  was  understood  to  be  under  the  seal  of  the  most 
inviolable  s(!crecy.     By  Tidd  I  am  sure  it  never  will  be  brolu-n. 
Indeed,  he  is  the  only  man  in  the  woi'ld  with  whom  I  would 
have  entered  into  such  an  agreement.     He  is  a  man  at  once  of 
the  grci!t(st  gx)od  temper  and  of  the  strict. st  honor.     Notwith- 
standing his  legal  knowledge  and  his  eminence  in  the  profession, 
he  is  (piite  unassuming.     He  places  himself  not  only  on  a  level 
with  you,  but  below  you.     He  never  speaks  to  his  clerk  even 
Avithout  a  smile.     As  he  said  himself,  '  I  am  sure  that  our  feel- 
ings will  never  clash.'    JJi"  'oiV.s  will  be  experienced,  and  unplea.s- 
ant  eircumstiinces  may  very  probably  now  and  then  fall  out,  but 
upon  the  whole  it  is  still  my  •  pini  ^n  that  the  arrangement  is 


f\     IsV 


1^^111 1 

I 


(1 


104 


LIFE  OF   I.OUU  CAMPIIELL. 


[1804. 


prudent  and  fortunate.  It  in  Honicthin^  very  like  Hclling  myself 
for  two  years,  but  I  do  not  hcII  myself  to  the  Devil.  Hod  I 
been  called  to  the  bar  in  MicliiielmnH  term  1806,  I  hIiouM  have 
found  it  much  pleasantcr  the  following  year  to  attend  the  Court 
of  King's  Ben(!h  and  the  Old  Jiailey,  to  go  to  quarter  sessions 
and  assi/eH,  than  to  sit  mewed  up  the  whole  time  in  a  i>leader'8 
office,  cngagcHl  in  em  ploy  men  t.s  that  I  might  consider  <legrading; 
but  instead  of  jCIOO  1  should  not,  ex<'('[)t  by  the  merest  accident, 
littve  made  100«.  My  politicud  friends  might  have  got  me 
retainetl  in  a  prosecution  for  a  libel  or  some  such  case,  but, 
having  no  ac(iuaintancc  with  attorneys,  I  could  have  had  no 
regular  business.  The  second  year  probably  would  not  have 
lieen  much  better  than  the  first.  Witlumt  condescending  to  any 
meanness,  or  violating  any  of  the  laws  against  hu(/(/eri/y  I  shall 
now  be  able,  I  hope,  to  make  some  valuable  connections,  so  that 
I  may  look  to  do  something  from  my  first  outset.  There  is  one 
necessary  consequence  which  I  think  of  with  great  pleasure.  I 
must  become  a  very  good  lawyer.  Tidd  luus  an  inniicnse  deal  of 
every  kind  of  business,  and  his  law  library  is  complete. 

I  have  done  what  I  could,  my  dear  father,  to  jiut  you  in  pos- 
session of  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case.  You  see  it  was 
impossible  for  me  previously  to  consult  you.  To  make  me  per- 
fectly satisfied  it  only  remains  that  you  shall  aj)prove  of  my  pro- 
ceedings. Be  not  afraid  of  my  spirits  drooping  under  protracted 
hope  and  long-continued  exertion.  I  nmst  invigorate  my  indus- 
try and  strengthen  my  courage  by  looking  forward  to  the  end  of 
my  labors,  and  the  recompense  I  may  then  expect.  '  In  agri(!ul- 
ture,'  says  Dr.  Johnson,  *  one  of  the  most  simple  and  necessary 
employments,  no  man  turns  up  the  ground  but  because  he  thinks 
of  the  harvest,  that  harvest  which  l)lights  may  intercept,  which 
inundations  may  sweep  away,  or  which  death  or  calamity  may 
hinder  him  from  reaping.' 

I  have  been  in  my  j>rcsent  chambers  about  a  week.  I  find 
myself  extremely  comfortable.  I  have  two  sitting-rooms  and  a 
bedroom  on  the  first  floor,  i  Rent,  £28  a  year.  The  garret  I 
lived  in  in  Lincoln's  Inn  is  now  to  be  let  for  £30.    I  had  to  pay 


1 1- 


1804.]  MOVES  PROM  mncoln'h  inn  to  tiik  temple.       166 

X\i  10/j.  for  HxturoH,  Mtoves,  fire-irons,  «iiri)et8,  window  blinds, 
&c.  My  old  furniture  with  mmc  little  additions  will  be  suffi- 
cient. I  intendtMl  to  Imve  Hcnt  you  Honie  money  that  I  owe  you 
just  now,  but  after  what  you  nay  in  your  last,  you  might  not  take 
it  well  were  I  to  do  ho.  My  pittance  from  the  'Chronicle*  of 
course  has  not  Ix'cn  sutfiiMont  to  anHwcr  these  extraordinary 
demands.  I  sold  out  jGflO  three  jK'r  cents,  for  whi<!h  I  got  between 
X28  and  jC20.  At  i)res<>nt  I  am  ciwlta  Jfunh.  Indeed  all  financial 
obstacles  to  my  advancement  are  now  removed.  I  intend  to  dine 
frequently  here  at  home,  and  to  lay  in  a  jiiece  of  cheese,  to  stock 
my  cellars  with  ale  uud  jmitc  r,  and,  iw  the  citizens  say,  to  study 
comfort  a  little  inon*  flian  T  have  hitherto  done.  I  have  laid 
down  some  praiseworthy  resolutions  upon  the  score  of  taking 
exercise  which,  with  the  blessinj;  of  heaven,  I  am  in  hopes  of 
virtuously  keeping.  I  have  no  longer  the  same  otjcasion  to  con- 
fine myself  to  the  desk  as  Avhen  a  twelvemonth  seemed  the  time 
of  my  stay  in  the  office,  and  I  had  Tidd's  go(xl  opinion  yet  to 
gain.  You  may  gu(>ss  how  T  mean  to  employ  the  week  or  two 
I  bargained  for  next  summer.  T  shall  be  very  happy  to  be  intro- 
duced to  your  reading-room.  As  to  my  contributions  to  the  paper, 
they  consist  almost  solcily  of  the  theatrical  critiques,  which  can't 
be  much  relished  in  the  country,  and  of  small,  I  will  not  say 
wittif,  paragraj>bs  iiiterspei'sed  with  italics  to  inform  the  readier 
where  the  joke  is  to  be  found.  I  sometimes  write  an  article  aim- 
ing at  humor,  such  as  Polithn-theafriciui — but  this  very  seldom 
indeed. 


'rcmjilo,  October  30,  J 804. 

My  deak  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  Tlu;  King  is  supposed  to  be  at 
prcent  very  well.  Pitt  feels  hiiiisolf  quite  secure,  but  will  lie 
a  good  deal  annoyed  about  his  Defence  Bill.  What  the  poor 
Doctor's  mi;^ht  have  done  (for  which  he  was  turned  out)  heaven 
knows,  but  certain  it  is  that  Billy's  has  scarcely  profluci-d  a  single 
recruit.  The  volunteer  force  is  melting  away  very  fast.  I  was 
in  Hyde  Park  yesterday  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  rain  for  four 
hours,  not  only  staiiding  but  sometimes  kneelii^down  ia  puddles 


\  i, 


U 


'!ny 


\  n  i 


11 


l(iG 


LIFK  OF   LOUD   CAMPIIKM.. 


[18'J4. 


a  foot  (IcH'p.  I  Hhiiii't  Im>  m  cmight  agtiiii  in  u  hurry.  A  iiiUn 
cun  Hubinit  to  tiuvh  thiiigH  only  from  the  imiULHliato  drnul  of 
invaoiou. 

Tnmplo,  Nov<'inl)i)r  20,  1804 

My  DKAR  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  It  Ihiiow  thehottt'Htof  the  tt^in, 
and  we  art;  very  huHy  at  Tidd'K.  'flic  most  aj^reeuble  part  of  my 
time  in  H|K!nt  in  the  (tflice.  The  ohjrcf  hi-fore  my  eycH  preveiitM 
the  emphiymeiit  from  lM>iMg  in  any  (h'^ree  irksome,  and  I  cannot 
eontemphite  without  Matinfactinn  the  wuisihU'  addition  which  every 
day  brings  to  my  HtorcM  of  h'j^al  Unowle<!ge.  To  a  mind  coiiHti- 
tutctl  an  mine  i«,  tlie  greatest  advantage  arises  from  having  a 
reguhir  tiisk  to  |)erform  an«l  as(!ttled  course  to  pursue.  Care  and 
anxiety  and  irresohition  anddes[>ondence  will  still  at  times  intrude, 
but  for  a  great  part  of  the  (hiy  I  am  actively  engaged,  and  little 
leisure  is  left  for  tlu;  workings  of  a  gloomy  imagination.  Among 
the  pupils  I  am  remarkabUi  for  my  gaiety  and  pleasantry.  I  am 
not  at  all  satisfit'd  however  with  the  bantering  sarcastic  strain  in 
which  I  indulg(!  with  them,  both  as  it  is  against  your  admonitions 
and  my  own  judgment.  I  have  n'pcatedly  wscdved  to  reform, 
but  have  eonstiuitly  sunk  under  the  first  temptati(tns  that  the 
Devil  cjist  in  my  way.  You  say,  and  you  say  truly,  that  F  ought 
to  rceonunend  myself  by  all  means  to  those  around  me.  IJut  (tiir 
office  is  a  perfe<'t  arcita  for  wrestling,  cutting  and  slashing  fn»ni 
morning  till  night.  I  must  confess  that  I  am  loo  apt  to  take  u[) 
any  gauntlet,  and  indeed  to  throw  down  my  own  and  become  the 
challenger.  We  hav(!  lik(!wise  one  or  two  huth  who  supply 
merriment  in  the  intervals  of  disputation.  \  have  sworn  a 
thousand  times  to  spare  them,  but  ncivcr  can  abstain  from  joining 
in  the  attempt  to  hoax  them  and  ma'cc  tluMu  ridiculous.  If  rims 
follows  that  I  do  not  stand  high  for  good  natun;  and  blandncss 
of  manners.  I  am  not  yet  without  hopes  of  amendment ;  when 
I  take  my  seat  as  Chief  .Justice,  perhaps  I  may  be  able  to  jussutue 
the  grave  impartiality  and  meekness  })ecoming  that  high  office. 
In  the  meantime  it  is  not  easy  to  remain  neutral  and  indifferent 
in  the  midst  of  contending  forces.     In  our  office  as  on  the  con- 


1804.] 


SqUAUIII.IM   IN   TIDDH    OFFICI. 


ir,7 


tinunt  of  Riiro|)o,  little  in  to  Iw  uxfioctrd  tVoin  forlicariuKw,  und 
it  id  mH!w*8jii"y  to  Ik;  fciirwl  more  timii  to  In?  IovchI. 

It  \h  pletiMUit  to  HOC'  how  tlu!  Htoriii  gatherM  round  Fruncc  in 
every  (lirc<!tion.  I  triiHt  that  tin;  irloudri  will  gradually  t^onocn- 
trato,  chargtHl  with  the  wrath  of  heaven,  and  at  laHt  disehnrgc 
their  (;onteiit»  againnt  the  throne  of  the  (^>rHiean. 

Tcmplw,  Decembor  10, 1804. 

My  dkau  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  You  are  unneeesrtarily  alanmnl 
ahout  my  |H<tulun('e  in  Tidd't*  ofliee.  I  have  always  had  thr 
more  re!4i>eet4d>le  of  tlu;  uw.n  on  my  nide  and  it  is  Meldom  tliiit  our 
squabbleM  pnxM'ed  to  dceided  ill-humor.  Of  late  I  have  not  had 
much  t^iHte  for  disputation  or  raillery  and,  m()m(Mitary  intervals 
exeepted,  I  have  tin;  gcMnl  will  as  well  as  tln^  respect  of  all  my 
brother  pleaders.  I  continue  on  the  nu)st  friendly  footing  with 
old  Tidd  and  have  everything  tn  exp(«!t  from  my  eonnection 
with  him. 

I  have  no  news  for  you  of  any  kind.  F  saw  the  King  to-night 
at  Covent  Garden  Theatre;.  Although  he  was  dressed  rather 
whims^ically,  he  looked  and  b<-haved  much  a.s  he  use<l  to  do.  I 
believe  I  told  you  some  time  ago  of  the  dispute  l)etwcen  him 
and  the  Prince,  eoneerning  the  Prificess  Charlotte.  Whatever 
natun;  may  dictate,  the  law  is  most  uneciuivoeally  with  the 
King. 

Fox  is  entirely  devotwl  to  the  Young  Koscius.  Did  you  read 
any  of  my  criticisms  upon  the  boy's  performances?  I  have  got 
considerable  credit  by  (hem.  Hut  unless  you  reeidl  the  time 
when  you  t(»ok  post  oub^idc  the  theatre  at  midday  for  the  pur- 
pose of  seeing  Garrick,  you  will  not  easily  conceive  the  interest 
that  such  things  now  create  in  London. 


-^-1 


168 


I, IKK  OP    l.(»l(l>   CAMI'IIKI.I.. 


.';/ 


[1806. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

'  MaBOII,   IBOft-NoVKMHKR.  1»06. 

Stcond  Ynar  in  Ti<J<r«  Offlcw— RMolutionH  in  lli"  Hoiina  of  Oommofti*  Con 
domtiiii^  Lord  Melville'ii  Coiuluil— KietirHion  to  Camhridgtt  witli  Mr 
Qri^Jnlit  — Daviil  WiIIck^  — Talci*  ii  MoriiliH  ||oli<la}'  un<l  k<)«m  to  i'coiIiimI 
— Oivi'n  up  luH  Knuiigi'tiicnt  Willi  tin'  '  Mi»riini)^l'liriiniiln'  — KrNkino  I-"  J 
Chancollor  Wilkin'M 'Villiigx  I*(>liii(  iwi«'— l.nr'i  MtilvillvR  Trial— Vbit 
to  the  IhU  of  Wight  witti  Mr  Tuncrinl— l'rci|M(?.i'i|  at  Liru'oln'»  Inn  by 
Sir  Vicary  UibbH— CkIU'I  to  tlm  Uar. 

[ion.lori,  Miiroh  '23,  INOR 

My  dkau  nitoTiiKit: —  .  .  .  You  m'U^\  judii-ioiiMly  lus  well 
as  generously  in  wntliiig  uie  (he  letter  of  nvdit.  I  Hhowed  it 
with  no  MMiiilI  share  of  pride  to  my  iriends  :i'  Tidd's,  who  iiiUHt 
no  doubt  now  consider  me  u  mini  of  Home  eonsequenee  with  the 
commnnd  of  £!">()()  I  'Pliiit  your  mermntile  siHeuIations  nuiy  not 
be  enun|M>d  by  your  keeping  money  to  answer  toy  drafts,  [  may 
08  well  tell  you  when  I  am  likely  to  draw.  Your  Iiust  bill  for 
£150  (though  somewhat  anticipated),  together  with  Tidd's  jCIOO 
and  jCIOO  frotn  the  '(!hrniii(>Ic,'  will  keep  me  perfectly  well  till 
I  am  called  to  tin;  bar  in  Noveml)er,  1800.  At  that  lime  T 
must  buy  a  ntimlx-r  of  books,  and  in  ditlcrent  ways  shall  be  put 
to  considerable  c,\|iense,  while  my  past  sources  of  gain  will  Ix^ 
entirely  stopped.  Then  T  shiill  aviiil  myself  of  your  botinty  to 
the  full  extent  that  tny  interests  rc(juire.  Small  as  your  funds 
now  are,  in  ease  of  ne(!i'ssity  I  will  retidily  share  them  with  yoti. 
I  know  th(!  plciLsure  you  have  had,  and  woitld  again  have,  iti 
assisting  me.  The  100  guineas  you  supplied  me  with  for  Tidd 
I  atn  sure  have  yitilded  you  more  satisfsvction  than  you  ever 
derivctl  from  any  sum  of  the  same  amount. 

Tidd  Iwhaves  to  me  in  the  most  delicate  and  handsome  manner. 
With  the  pupils  I  stand  on  as  desirable  a  footing  as  I  could 
imagine.    One  or  two  very  valuable  men  have  lately  (mtercd  the 


ii 


1 


Ifior)."! 


rr.NnniK  or  i.onn  MF.rA'ii.r.K. 


tnf> 


ofRc*'.  Th«'y  hiivi'  Inul  tlio  In'ht  (tliK'ution,  imwh^c^s  j;rr«f  Ktnni*  of 
lonrniiip;,  aro  ni'  (;i'i)t<>«'l  iKiiln'MM,  without  liii\  iii)^  tin*  cxtmvii^ttnt 
(iiMHi|)iil«>4l  turn  wliifli  |ii'rvi>rtt<<<l  iiu  tVoiii  toriniti^  any  iiitinia<y 
wiMi  tlit>  otlicrM.  I  lind  tli«<iii  vory  pIcaMMiit  coinpaniDiH,  aixl  I 
cttu  in>w  have  «'xc«'ll('iit  HM-irty  iu-*<irf(ii  »•<  I  am  iiiclin*'«l  to  rrlax. 
,  .  .  I'itt  Htill  clini^H  to  {tliici*  with  a  coiiviilsivc  ^^ra^p.  OM 
Hurry  DuialaM  hiw  j^ot  into  a  I'Dnf'oundtuI  hoLMo  hy  thr  ''I'tiith 
Kcpoi ;,'  wh«)rt«'  fame  will  nprcilily  [HTvadr  IliiidiiHtiiii.*  No  oni' 
ii*  H(»  pleased  with  it  iw  tin*  Kin;/.  Whoiu^'ocvi'r  he  nu-otM  hi'^ 
(piiNtion  in,  •  IFav«>  you  wm  the  'I't'itth  llcport?  tin-  Tenth 
Report  "  It  eleiirly  a|t|M'arM  that  DiindiiH,  in  violation  of  a 
po^itivo  Htatute,  allowed  Trotter  to  play  with  the  piihlie  money 
ton  moHt  inonHtroiiH  amoniit  and  hhaml  with  him  in  the  profitH. 
The  result  is  likely  to  he  very  M'riou-*.  There  seenw  no  ehanco 
of  a  e< ml i Mental  r<»nf«'<lera<y.  The  alarm  alxtut  invasion  han 
Hunk  into  the  n\ost  unaei-ountahie  apathy,  and  the  vo1unte<!r 
«yHt<'in  liju'*  tuolf'  il  away  like  the  Icmelcfs  t'ahrie,  of  a  vi»ion,  not- 
withslandinj;  the  Itoaxt  of  our  S2(>,0(K)  men  In  arms. 


T«mplo  April  \r>,  \hOlS 

My  dkau  Fatiiku:—  .  .  .  Was  not  the  8th  of  April  a 
j^loriou-s  day?t  I  must  sjiy  that  no  pnl)lie  .veni  h:iH  .^u  fwiileil 
ray  heart  with  exultation  since  Lord  Howe's  victory  on  .June  1, 
11!'l)4.  Oraci(HW  powers !  how  you  must  havo  Ixscu  a.-^tonir^lied 
in  Soot  land !  The  idol  before  whom  y(m  ha<l  kiuilt  wiii»  awe, 
shivered  to  pieir.s  hy  a  thundcrholt !  'I'll'  tyrant  whose  [)ower 
.seemed  as  permanent  as  it  was  despojif,  overwlulmed  in  the 
inklst  of  his  liuards  !  The  inail-i'ciaeh  carrvinu;  down  ihe  L'rm- 
lutionn  was,  no  doubt,  nuit  by  (»thers  louiled  with  applications  to 
his  lordship  for  the  situation  of  one  of  the  sixteen  peers — that 
of  a  judjfe — a  Lord  Lieutenant — asheritt' — a  parson — an  exeise- 

*Rt>p(wt  on  the  conduct  of  Lord  Molville  a»  TrnaBurer  of  tho  Navy. — Ed. 

fOn  Afiril  8  Mr  Whitliroad  moved  a  suries  of  rosiolutiona  condemning  the 
conduct  of  Lord  Molvillo.  At  four  in  tho  morning  tho  House  divided— for 
the  motion,  216;  against  it,  210.  Tho  Spoakor,  Abbott,  gave  hib  costing  vote 
for  the  motion. — Ed. 


VOT,  I. 


8 


^<^y 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


^/       v 


f:<^ 


1.0 


1.1 


UllZl    115 

:  ui  no 


IL25  III  1.4 


Kiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


3>^ 


<^V 


^1 


33  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


"%' 


^ 


\ 


170 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


L1805. 


man — a  vestry  clerk,  «&c.  It  must  luive  been  Honie  tinie  l)efore 
you  brought  yourselves  to  believe  that  you  had  reatl  a  true 
account  of  what  had  actually  taken  place.  Even  here,  where 
Harry's  character  was  better  understood,  and  a  somewhat  juster 
sense  prevailed  of  what  was  due  to  the  public,  people  were  at 
fifst  incredulous  and  would  not  be  persuaded  that  the  House  of 
Commons  had  so  much  virtue.  Your  Cupar  reading-room  no 
doubt  cried  out  with  one  voice:  *0  infamous  Chronicle!  O 
calumnious,  traitorous,  rebellious  Chronicle ! '  I  own  that  I  feel 
something  in  ihfi  nature  of  a  triumph  over  a  personal  enemy. 
I  had  a  great  antipathy  to  Dundas  on  account  of  the  rude  inso- 
lence with  which  he  domineered  over  my  native  country.  But 
I  protest  that  I  chiefly  rejoice  in  the  event  from  the  consequences 
it  must  produce.  After  e uch  a  dreadful  example  of  national  justice 
there  will  not  be  a  great  otficer  of  state  suspected  of  peculation  for 
a  century  to  come.  Above  all  the  Constitution  must  be  endeared 
to  the  people.  More  was  done  by  tliis  vote  for  the  de^iniction  of 
Jacobinism  than  all  the  suspensions  of  the  Habeas  Corpus  Act, 
gagging  bills,  and  State  trials,  that  ever  were  thought  of  by  a 
short-sighted  and  arbitrary  government.  Pitt  expresses  a  hopti 
of  having  the  Resolutions  retracted.  What  a  cruel  dilemma  ho 
was  brought  into — either  to  desert  his  old  friend  or  to  defend 
the  most  notorious  abuses !  .  .  . 

My  private  affairs  go  on  flourishingly.  ...  At  present  I  know 
not  whether  there  is  any  attorney  who  would  bring  me  a  brief; 
but  it  begins  to  be  bruited  abroad  that  there  is  a  Scotsman  with 
Tidd  of  the  name  of  Campbell,  a  devil  of  a  fellow  for  fagging, 
and  likely  to  get  on.  Before  my  bondage  is  expired  I  shall  be 
pretty  generally  known  in  the  profession,  whether  for  my  advan- 
tage remains  to  be  seen.  I  am  not  sure  whether  I  can  rely  very 
much  upon  Tidd's  exertions  in  my  favor  after  I  leave  him.  I 
have  heard  great  complaints  of  late  of  his  indifference  al)out  his 
old  pupils  and  the  selfishness  of  his  disposition.  Notwithstand- 
ing his  extreme  fondness  for  money,  I  have  myself  obsetval 
nothing  of  this  sort.  That  he  should  take  a  deep  intenat  in 
every  man  who  pays  him  £105  and  lounges  away  a  few  morn- 


1806.] 


SECOND   YKAU   !>'   TIDO  H  UFFIOB. 


171 


ings  in  hii4  i.'homlMii'H,  catiuut  potwibly  be  exiMx^ted;  but  he  seeiiiM 
to  me  always  to  be  very  attentive  to  those  who  deserve  well  at 
Ids  hands.  t 

I  cannot  by  any  means  give  you  so  good  an  account  of  my 
spouting  as  of  my  special  pleading.  For  the  soul  of  me  I  am 
unable  to  rouse  myself  to  exertion  in  a  mock  debate.  If  warmed 
by  any  means,  I  could  get  on  very  well,  but  hio  labor,  hoc  opua. 
However,  I  am  more  and  more  sensible  of  the  importance  of 
being  able  to  deliver  myself  with  facility,  and  1  rthall  strive  to 
the  utmost  to  acquire  this  accomplishment.  I  have  had  very 
little  to  do  of  late  in  the  way  of  crUiciamg.  This  is  with  us  the 
holy  season  of  Lent,  during  which  the  theatres  are  shut  several 
nights  every  week.  Besides,  after  February  there  are  few  new 
pieces  produced,  few  (KbutarUa  step  foi'ward,  and  theati*icals  are 
not  much  regarded.  I  wish  I  could  shake  off  the  paper  altogether, 
but  I  could  not  justify  to  my  conscience  the  sacrifice  of  a  hundred 
guineas,  though  they  cost  me  a  good  deal  of  irritation  and  anxiety. 

Before  I  conclude,  let  me  not  forget  to  boast  of  now  taking 
regular  exercise.  I  get  up  every  morning  soon  after  seven,  and 
take  a  long  walk  with  Lawes  before  breakfast,  from  which  I 
find  the  most  salutary  effects. 

Temple,  May  5, 1805. 

My  deab  Father  : —  ...  "With  respect  to  exercise  I  trust 
your  practice  corresponds  with  your  precepts.  '  Do  not,  as  some 
ungracious  pastors  do,  show  me  the  steep  and  thorny  way,  &c.'* 
I  can  assure  you  I  continue  to  take  my  walk  regularly  with  my 
friend  Lawes,  which  yields  me  not  only  health  but  instruction, 
as  we  generally  employ  ourselves  in  discussing  some  knotty  point 
in  special  pleading.  Lawes  opened  shop  for  himself  the  moment 
he  left  Tidd,  and  has  met  with  the  most  extraordinary  success. 
He,  literally,  has  more  business  at  present  than  he  is  able  to  man- 
age. A  bet  has  been  laid  that  in  the  year  from  Michaelmas,  1806, 
to  Michaelmas,  1806,  he  will  make  five  hundred  guineas !  It  Ls 
astonishing  what  may  be  accomplished  by  industry  in  this  branch 


*Hamlel,  act  i.  8c.  3. 


178 


LIFK  OK   UntD  CAMPOKUi. 


[1806. 


of  th«  profemion,  but  I  do  not  IicHitate  a  moment  about  dashing 
at  tlio  bur. 

I  liclong  to  two  debating  rioiuctics;  but  the  one  of  them, 
having  long  languished,  w  now  on  the  })oint  of  diHSolution,  and 
the  other,  though  mrried  on  with  Hpirit,  is  comi)06cd  of  such 
men  that  it  would  by  no  nieuuH  add  to  one's  re8i)cctubility  to  1m) 
in  the  nundxT  of  itM  onitorM.  However,  I  Homctitnes  launch  out 
at  our  law  elub  ut  Tidd'H  office,  and  no  longer  ago  than  Saturduj 
I  gained  great  Mat  by  proving  that  'in  an  at^tion  ut  the  Huit  of 
an  executor  along  with  countH  laying  a  promise  to  the  testator, 
you  cannot  add  a  count  upon  an  hmmul  coinpuicuutU  with  the 
plaintiff  conrnM'ning  moneys  due  to  him  as  executor.'  I  am  not 
BUi*e  tliMt  r  r\v  mid  not  address  the  judges  of  tlic  King's  Bench  with 
less  enilHirnisHUient  than  the  chairman  of  a  s)K)uting  society.  I 
stMitik  well  in  proportion  as  I  am  roused,  and  I  am  roused  in 
pro)H)rtion  to  the  importance  of  the  occasion.  I  have  still  eigh- 
teen months  to  prejMire  myself,  in  which  time  I  shall  surely 
a(Hiuire  the  coui-age  tlmt  will  Im;  necessary  to  make  *  a  motion  of 
course,'  whii^h  is  alt  probably  that  I  shall  be  cntrusttnl  with.  T 
shall  be  glad  to  take  some  lessons  from  you  in  the  autumn. 
Suppose  that  you  and  I  should  debate  *  whetJier  Brutus  was  jus- 
tifiotl  in  killing  Ca»8i«*,'  or  'whether  thoatritid  representations 
are  favond)le  to  morals.'     We  will  place  Joss  in  the  chair. 

Easter  term  is  begun,  and  we  are  very  busy.  I  am  in  the 
office  about  ten  hours  a  day.  .  .  .  \Vc  have  excellent  sport  occa- 
sionally in  humbugging  the  attorneys.  With  some  of  them  I  am 
obliged  to  be  veiy  guarded,  as  they  know  a  vast  deal  more  than 
I  do ;  but  othei's  I  cf»a  throw  into  raptures  of  admimtion  by 
quoting  statutes  tliat  were  never  passed,  and  citing  cases  that 
never  were  decided.  I  continue  on  a  perfectly  good  footing 
with  all  the  pupils.  Against  Tidd  I  do  not  see  that  anything 
can  be  urged  except  that  he  is  excessively  fond  of  money,  and  that 
from  having  received  a  confinetl  e<lucation  his  notions  are  not 
always  the  most  liberal.  He  is  a  man  of  the  sweetest  disposi- 
tion imaginable.  I  can  give  you  no  idea  of  the  handsome  man- 
ner in  which  he  behaves  to  me.     He  positively  seems  to  think 


1»05.] 


EXCURSION  TO  CAMBUIlXiK. 


173 


me  the  niun  of  greatest  oonsequcnoe,  and  thut  /  am  entitled  to 
the  utmost  deference  und  submiflsion  from  him.  Whatever  the 
result  muy  be,  I  shall  work  with  him  for  the  appointed  time 
(which  I  would  not  wish  to  be  abridged  by  a  single  day)  with 
xcal  und  alacrity.  I  have  l)een  doing  disagreeably  little  for  the 
'Chroni<Oe' of  late.  The  theatrical  scawm  is  almost  over.  As 
I  take  money  I  should  winh  to  do  something  for  it.  Did  you 
rcjid  'Lord  Melville's  Will'?  I  had  the  honor  to  draw  it.* 
That  was  the  only  one  of  those;  ^cux  d'ettpril  of  my  composition. 
Some  of  thcra  were  extremely  good,  and  gained  the  paper  much 
credit. 

If  there  is  not  much  business  I  think  of  going  down  to  Cam- 
bridge for  two  days  about  the  end  of  the  month  along  with  a 
wrangler  in  our  office,  who  is  then  to  be  elected  a  fellow  of 
Christ's. 

Temple,  Jane  2, 1805. 

My  dear  Fa  riiFTi : — I  have  had  a  very  pleasant  excursion 
to  Cambridge.  I  intenthtl  to  write  to  you  while  T  was  there, 
but  in  the  hurry  and  bustle  in  which  I  found  myself  could  not 
in  any  manner  execute  my  purpose.  As  the  best  apology  for  my 
Hilence  I  shall  with  your  permission  give  you  a  short  sketch  of 
my  travels.  I  set  out  on  Tuesday  morning  at  eight  o'clock.  My 
companion  was  Mr.  Grisdale,  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Grisdale, 
Chancellor  of  the  Diocese  of  Carlisle,  and  Chairman  of  the  Cum- 
berland Quarter  Sessions.  We  mounted  on  the  top  of  a  coach 
at  the  White  Horse  in  Fetter  Lane.  The  weather  was  delight- 
ful. I  cannot  describe  to  you  how  much  I  was  exhilarated  by 
once  more  breathing  the  fresh  air  and  viewing  the  green  fields. 
It  is  now  near  a  year  and  a  half  since  I  entered  with  Tidd,  and 
(luriiij;  that  time  I  had  been  only  one  day  absent  from  the  office, 
when  I  had  gone  down  to  the  House  of  Commons.  I  am  of 
opinion  with  Dr.  Johnson  that  human  life  has  few  things  to  offer 
better  than  travelling  at  a  good  pace  in  a  post-chaise,  or  upon  a 
stage-coach.    We  took  the  same  road  as  the  celebrated  Mr.  John 

*  A  squib  in  the  Morning  Chronich  of  April  17, 1805. — Ed. 


174 


IJKE  OF   IX)KU  (^AMIMIin.l.. 


[1806. 


(lilpiii,  thii>UKh  iHlingtoii  niul  Ethnontoii  to  Ware.  Wu  olMScrved 
IiIm  mlveiitiii'CH  nn'orded  uim)Ii  hcvuiiiI  Hign-iMintH  m  we  immcd 
lilong.  AlM)iit  a  4iuart(>r  l)cf'oru  tlin><>  we  oainu  in  night  of  King's 
Coll(>g<>  ( 'lia|H'1,  I  w'lXH  vory  much  Htriifk  with  thin  nohle  building, 
onu  of  the  luoHt  |N!rf(Htt  HiMM^inuMiw  of  (rothiti  architcHtturo  extant. 
Tn  a  few  luinutoH  wo  wewf  in  the  Mtnn'ts  of  Cambridge — narrow, 
(TihiIvchI  and  dirty.  Ah  HO«)n  an  we  alightinl  we  walked  up  to 
ChriHt'rt  College,  where  theit;  wiw  a  nunierouM  jmrty  of  (jrrimlalc'H 
friends  drawn  up  to  rweive  him.  He  intrtNluetHl  me  to  the 
eirttle,  and  from  that  moment  till  my  (h'lxirturc  I  met  with  every 
kind  of  attention  and  {MditeneHH.  We  «line«l  with  a  Mr.  Kaye, 
a  young  man  scarcely  of  age,  who  luul  Ih^oii  at  once  a  senior 
wrangler  and  firHt  nuHlalliHt  (the  higIu>Ht  nuithematieal  and 
uhuwiml  honors),  and  who  in  eonsetiuence  had  been  immediately 
cleoted  a  fellow.*  My  friend  Orisdale  had  Ihhmi  WMHind  wrangler 
about  three  yearH  ago,f  and  luul  thus  iu>(|uireil  no  mean  fame  in 
the  Univeixity.  To  take  such  a  degret>  reqtiires  nniding  that  in 
Suotland  we  have  hanlly  any  notion  of.  If  there  are  greater 
instanctvs  of  idleni>!^  in  English  seminaries,  there  arc  likewise 
moi-e  astonishing  proofs  of  application.  We  rose  from  table  in 
time  to  take  a  turn  on  i\w  gnind  i>romenude  belonging  to  Clare 
Hall,  wheiv  we  found  crowds  of  gownsmen  and  ladies.  We  had 
a  splendid  sup|R'r  from  another  man  of  Christ's.  I  exj)ecteil  to 
liave  luul  rooms  in  the  college ;  but,  from  the  numlKT  of  fellows 
who  had  conu'  up  to  the  eltH'tion,  waw  obligctl  to  sleep  at  an  inn. 
Grimlalc  had  the  riHinjs  of  a  itunous  joi'key  who  had  gone  to 
some  nuvs.  Notlnng  that  I  sjiw  anuised  me  more  than  the 
nuunuM*  in  which  they  w<'rc  fittixl  up.  Not  a  b<K)k  was  to  Ik> 
setMi  in  them.  The  walls  wcj-c  hung  round  Avith  jM>rtnuts  of 
EeH|>sc>,  ITambletonian,  and  other  fanuais  mcers.  From  each 
side  of  the  looking-glass  dependwl  a  fox's  brush.  Behind  the 
dtwr  weiv  seveml  hunting  caps  and  (ujwn  my  honor)  ten  dittereut 
whips,  which  the  iKnlmaker  assuixxl  us  were  not  half  the  number 
this  gentlenuui  i)ossessed. 


*  Afterwards  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
t  Second  wrangler  in  1802. 


1806.] 


EXCURSION  TU  C'AMUKIUUK. 


176 


WedneMilay  wtw  the  diiy  of  the  uloctiou,  nnd  considerable 
unxicty  proviiiliHl.  The  felloM'8  met  at  eleven,  and  it  yfixa  not 
till  one  that  we  knew  that  Mr.  Grisdale  had  been  unanimously 
elected.  The  };n*''i»teHt  jmrt  of  the  morning  was  occupied  in  going 
to  tlie  YitH>-(1i:ii)(i>llor,  taking  the  oaths,  <&c.  A  grand  dinner 
was  given  in  the  hall.  I  wna  taken  to  the  fellows'  table,  and 
was  nsked  to  nit  next  the  master.  Ah  soon  as  the  cloth  was 
removed  we  all  retired  to  what  is  calletl  the  combination  room, 
where  there  was  such  a  drinking  bout  as  I  have  seldom  wit- 
nessed. 'Alma  Mater  lay  dissolved  in  port.'  Each  man  must 
have  hud  alwve  two  bottles.  Of  course  those  who  remained  to 
the  last  were  most  excessively  tipsy.  There  was  afterwards  a 
supper  given  by  Grisdale,  the  particulars  of  which  I  am  not  at 
all  able  to  describe.  By  some  means  or  other  I  got  safe  home  to 
my  inn,  but  several  of  the  fellows  contiiuied  reeling  through  the 
streets  for  a  great  part  of  the  night.  Next  day  was  chiefly 
(Kxrupied  in  viewing-  colleges,  libraries,  gardens,  &c.  There  is 
not  nearly  so  much  to  be  seen  here  as  at  Oxford,  although  they 
show  some  things  which  may  be  considered  great  curiosities.  I 
saw  the  bust  of  Ceres,  lately  brought  from  Athens,  which,  there 
is  the  best  reason  to  suppose,  is  the  statue  of  the  goddess  wor- 
shipped in  the  Eleusinian  mysteries ;  the  original  copy  of  Mil- 
ton's 'Comus'  in  his  own  handwriting,  with  the  various  altera- 
tions and  improvements  he  had  made  upon  it,  together  with  a 
sketch  of  his  intended  tragedy  upon  the  subject  of  Paradise 
Lost ;  and  a  great  number  of  pai)ers  in  the  handwriting  of  Sir 
Isaac  Newton ;  not  to  mention  Queen  Elizabeth's  slippers,  and 
the  present  made  by  Queen  Oberia  to  Captain  Cook,  Ac.  I  was 
more  gratified  with  the  op|x)rtunity  I  enjoyed  of  observing  the 
manners  of  the  place.  From  breakfasting  in  one  place,  dining 
in  another,  and  supping  at  a  third,  I  mixetl  with  all  the  classes 
of  which  the  University  is  composed.  The  various  reflections 
which  I  made  I  shall  reserve  till  our  mooting. 

I  must  just  mention  to  you  one  thing  that  happened  to  us. 
For  several  hours  we  were  in  the  county  gaol.  Do  not  suppose, 
however,  it  was  for  housebreaking  or  any  such  enormity.     We 


176 


I.IKK  OV   IJOUU  CAUI'HKIX. 


[1800. 


went  to  ilriiik  wiiio  with  Dr.  Fishor,  a  fellow  of  Chrint'M,  »iii- 
fiiicd  there  for  debt.  He  hod  been  Murety  for  a  brother  who 
failed  in  buHiness.  Ho  is  senior  doctor  at  Doctor*'  Commons, 
often  sitM  there  an  u  judge,  and  in  intimately  acquainted  with  Sir 
William  Seott,  Jjonl  Eldon,  Lord  Ellenborough,  and  all  the 
leading  men  of  the  doy.  We  had  hero  a  proof  of  how  much 
there  w  in  a  name.  There  was  nothing  to  tell  that  we  were  not 
in  a  well-furnieihod  private  house. 

The  latter  part  of  our  stay  was  somewhat  clouded  by  the  news 
of  the  death  of  Dr.  Paley.  Young  Paley,  I  believe  I  have  told 
you,  is  in  Tidd's  ofHcc.  On  Monday  night  I  poi'ted  with  him 
in  the  highest  of  spirits,  and  it  was  shocking  to  tliink  of  the 
news  to  be  brought  to  him  by  Tuesday's  post.  Besides  I  was 
uneasy  to  tliink  of  the  inconvenience  Tidd  might  be  sufiering, 
being  thus  deprived  of  the  man  he  chiefly  relied  upon  in  my 
absence.  I  was  extremely  well  satisfied  yesterday  morning  to 
find  myself  again  u{)on  the  top  of  a  coach  moving  towards  Lon- 
don. We  went  a  different  road,  by  Hockerill  and  through 
Epping  Forest.  The  prospect  for  some  time  was  very  fine,  as 
we  saw  the  richest  part  of  Essex,  the  most  beautiful  part  of 
Kent,  and  the  river  Thames  winding  between  them.  We 
arrived  at  the  'Blue  Boar'  in  Holborn  about  five  o'clock.  My 
£1*81  visit  was  to  the  ofBce.  I  found  that  things  had  been  going 
on  pretty  well,  and  that  Tidd,  expecting  my  return,  had  just  set 
out  on  a  little  expedition  to  the  country. 

I  confess  I  felt,  as  usual  upon  entering  my  solitary  dwelling 
after  any  absence,  rather  melancholy  and  forlorn.  It  is  only 
custom  that  could  reconcile  a  man  to  such  an  unnatural  mode  of 
life.  However,  I  fear  there  is  many  a  poor  henpeckc<l  husband 
who  would  envy  me  my  solitude.  How  am  I  to  agree  with  my 
two  meals — one  of  tea  and  plain  bread  and  butter,  and  the  other 
of  buttock  of  beef  and  a  pint  of  porter?  You  can  scarcely 
form  an  idea  of  the  sumptuous  manner  I  fed  and  soaked  at 
Christ's,  and  it  seemed  to  be  their  common  mode  of  life.  This 
being  a  small  college,  the  men  belonging  to  it  form  but  one 
society,  and  at  every  meal  they  are  feasting  with  each  other.    If 


1806.]  D.vvin  wii.KU.  177 

they  dino  in  the  hall,  one  of  them  regularly  gives  wine  and  fruit 
after  dinner  at  his  ruonu.  It  in  imiKMHible  they  should  spend 
1cm  than  X300  or  X400  a  year.  How  different  Avm  St.  Andrewn, 
where  the  whole  expense  of  the  scMion  may  be  defVayed  for  £10 
or  £16!  But  I  Hcaroely  ventured  to  whisper  that  I  had  been 
at  a  Soots  University,  or  hud  any  academical  degree.  The 
infamous  practice  of  soiling  diplomas  in  medicine  thrown 
uuspcakablo  dirtgraoe  U|K>n  the  Scots  universities  and  all  con- 
cerned with  them.  If  M.D.  may  bo  purchased  by  a  mnii  who 
never  was  within  the  walls  of  a  college,  it  is  natural  enough  to 
suppose  that  A.  M.  may  be  so  likewise.  As  soon  as  I  get  into 
Parliament  I  shall  do  something  to  rectify  these  abuses.  I 
intend  to  fag  hard  now  for  two  months,  and  then  I  set  sail  for 
the  Tay.  .  .  . 

Much  interest  is  excited  by  Lord  Melville's  promised  defence.* 
It  is  thought  tliat  at  any  rate  the  question  to  impeach  him  will 
be  carried  in  the  House  of  Commons.  But  in  that  case  I  sup- 
pose no  progress  could  be  mode  in  the  trial  during  the  present 
session. 

Templa,  June23, 1R0S. 

My  dear  Father: —  ...  As  yet  no  ships  from  Ben(r>1t 
There  is  a  fleet  expected  to  sail  almost  immediately.  It  c  >  >^' 
a  box  from  me  containing  a  copy  of  the  British  Poets,  a  wnti  g 
desk  a  suit  of  clothes,  &o.  .  .  . 

It  was  only  yesterday  that,  returning  home  in  the  evening,  I 
found  on  my  table  your  letter  by  young  Wilkie,t  together  with 
his  card.  I  am  afraid  he  may  have  called  several  times  before, 
and  always  found  my  door  locked.  You  should  have  addressed 
to  me  at  Tidd's,  where  I  am  to  be  found  all  day  long.  I  shall 
write  to  Wilkie  to-morrow  and  invite  him  to  breakfast  with  me. 
If  he  is  such  a  young  man  as  you  describe,  I  should  be  infinitely 
delighted  to  be  of  any  service  to  him.     One  of  the  chief  grati- 

*0d  June  11  Lord  Melville  appeared  at  the  Bar  of  the  Hoase  of  Commou 
and  made  a  ipeech  of  <two  houra  and  twenty  minutes  in  hit  own  defence.— Eo. 
t  David  Wilkie,  the  painter. 


178 


MKK  oK    M>lii>  ('AMI'IIKI.L, 


[1806. 


floatioiw  I  |m>|MMu  to  niyMilf  on  my  clrvatioii  to  th<>  wooUick,  In 
to  patronixi!  gnniuN  nn<l  to  draw  merit  from  oliHcurity.* 

Tninplit,  Htinday  nvaning,  AiiKuat  4,  )M05. 

My  DKAn  Fathkic —  .  .  .  I  fthoiililhuw  wiMhttl  t(»  omlmrk 
nbout  tho  middle  of  th'w  week,  hut  there  \a  not  a  Muiuek  to  Mill 
till  Sunday  the  11th.  Then  I  Hhali  iHunniit  niyHelf  to  the  '  I^ord 
Kinnaird/  Rohm  master,  the  very  name  man  (hy  an  <NJd  coinei- 
dcnce)  with  whom  I  Hailed  on  my  two  fonu(>r  voyageN  to  the 
Tay.  I  hope  to  enter  thiH  renowned  river  alnrnt  the  end  of  the 
week,  and  I  Hhall  rcekon  mynelf  very  unfortunate  if  1  do  not 
8up  with  you  on  the  night  of  Sunday  the  18th.  ...  Do  not,  I 
pray,  iuHixt  upon  <»rrying  mo  much  al)out  on  viHitH.  I  Hhould 
bo  beflt  pleoMHl  never  to  leave  the  houfw  while  I  remain  with  you. 
I  feel  inclined  likewiHO  to  entreat  that  you  would  not  nhow  nu< 
too  much  kimlncHH.  In  the  HrHt  place,  I  am  really  hurt  hy  the 
(»nsciou8ni>fl8  of  not  meriting  what  you  lavish  U|N)n  me,  and  in 
the  second  place  the  eontnwt  which  w  thuH  o<!cuNion(>d  maken  the 
indifference  and  contempt  I  exiwrience  in  the  world  the  more 
cutting.  But  how  should  I  l)e  grieved  if  you  were  to  act  an  if 
I  had  sunk  in  your  i«tcem  and  hml  lost  your  tenderness ! 

I  dined  one  day  lately  at  liambeth  with  Tidd.  He  walkwl 
homewards  with  me  to  WeatmlnsUir  Bridge,  and  we  hud  some 
talk  together  alx)ut  the  shop.  He  expivssed  in  very  flattering 
terms  his  sense  of  my  exertions.  He  thi"ew  out  something  of 
his  being  tired  of  business,  &i\,  but  this  is  mere  talk.    I  le  is  nnich 


*Sir  D&vid  Wilkie'a  lather,  tlie  uuniHtor  of  Oultrt,  had  iimrrinij  a  Hixtur  of 
Dr.  Campbell,  who,  however,  died  early,  aod  was  uot  the  mother  of  the 
painter  The  following  paxsage  ia  extracted  from  Allan  Cunniogbain'H  Life 
of  Sir  David  Wilkie,  vol.  i.  page  6: 

'"1776.  October  18 — Waa  this  day  married  to  one  of  the  moKt  beautiful 
women  in  Fife,  MiBs  M;iiy  Cuii]i!/i;ll,Histor  to  lieorgo  Oampboll,  onu  of  the 
miniBtci'ii  of  Cupar."  TIuh  young  lady  wuh  the  aunt  of  the  proHciit  Lord 
Cam|>)i('ll,  and  in  Htill  remumborod  ai>  onii  of  the  lovelicat  woniun  of  thu  land 
These  .sad  words  follow: — "1777  February  8. — This  day  my  boloved  wili; 
departed  this  life,  having  been  taken  ill  of  a  fever  attended  by  conBumption 
— an  event  the  most  afflicting  I  ever  met  with."  Thus  began,  but  did  not 
end,  the  friendship  between  the  families  of  Wilkie  and  Campbell.' — Eo. 


1800.] 


IIOMPAY  AT   IIOMK. 


m 


too  fond  of  money  to  rvtiro  whilr  ho  ii«  iiltl«  to  work.  Wuru  he 
(contrary  to  my  oonflrmnl  U'licf)  to  pni)MNH>  l)y-nn<l-l>y  Miy  ar- 
rangonicnt  )>y  which,  on  curtain  tcrrnr*,  I  luiglit  lucctHMl  him, 
prudence  would  tx)m|)el  me  to  linfcn  to  tlie  offer,  hut  im  fur  an 
inolinotion  gooM  I  would  much  rather  at  once  try  my  chiinn>  at 
the  har.  I  have  no  Innate  love  of  drudgery.  I  won  not  lM)rn  a 
fag.  I  do  not  devoU;  myaelf  to  N|M>cial  plending  from  u  Iwlief 
that  there  in  no  more  ogremhlo  or  worthy  cxcrtMite  for  the  liuniun 
faoulticH.  r  Hliould  look  forwuixl  with  much  more  plcoHure  to 
earning  a  tiUte  money  and  u  fitth  fume  uh  an  fidvo»ite,  than  to 
being  |>er|)etually  nhut  up  in  my  chambers  Nettling  decluratiimM, 
though  I  should,  like  Tidd,  make  eight  or  ten  guineas  a  day.  .  . 

I  wish  to  heaven  I  knew  how  to  procure  some  /iwhionablo 
music  for  the  girls,  but  I  am  (piitc  ignorant  of  thcHe  mattent 
myself,  arid  I  do  not  know  any  amateur  I  can  apply  to.  I  should 
probobly  preoent  them  with  some  pieceH  c()m|MMcd  for  the  bassoon 
or  the  French  horn.  Of  new  Frt>nch  publications  I  might  be  a 
better  judge  if  I  hod  time  to  peruse  them,  but  I  am  not  at  all 
acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  late  im|)ortation8,  so  that  I 
shall  not  run  the  risk  of  loading  mytHilf  with  a  piece  of  insipidity 
or  indecency. 

By  this  time  next  Sunday  I  shall  be  on  the  bosom  of  the  deep. 
There  now  blows  a  gale  that  would  soon  carry  mo  past  Flamboro' 
Head.     I  wish  it  may  contmue. 

[Between  this  and  the  next  letter  the  much-talked-of  visit  to 
Scotland  has  taken  place,  and  he  thus  writes  on  his  return  to 
London. — Ed.]  : 

Tidd'8  OfBco,  Wo-lnonday,  Soptombcr  11, 180B. 

My  dear  Father  : — When  I  came  here  about  an  hour  ago 
I  did  not  intend  to  write  to  you  for  a  day  or  two,  but  I  found 
upon  the  table  two  letters  from  George,  of  which  you  wt>uld  no 
doubt  wish  to  be  informed  as  soon  as  [H)BsibIc.  .  .  . 

I  was  put  down  safe  in  Fetter  Lane  to-day  at  one  o'clock. 
The  journey  was  i-eally  very  pleasant,  and  I  feel  so  little  fatigued 


IRO 


i.irR  or  untu  rAMriiKi.i.. 


[1806. 


tliiit  I  ithoiild  not  miii<l  M'ttiii);  out  l>y  llin  muii»  miNlr  of  travel- 
liiiK  NM  MMin  iw  I  liiiv<>  ol«iM>«l  tliiH  li>ttor,  for  tlio  I^mimI'm  KimI  or 
•loliii  o'Onmt'ii  lIoifH*.  I  rfiiiiiiiMti  on  llm  top  of  t\w  «'nii4>|i  the 
whol<»  wny,  hut  novt'rtli«>li>w<,  then*  Mn\n  n  mil  round  It,  I  iilrpt 
II  louK  whili*  v<>ry  itmilorliilily  iiiwl  willi  iNTttt't  i«f<«'urity.  T  hiuJ 
ib«  )(«mmI  It  virw  of  lli«>  i-oiMitry  i\t*  it'  I  liiul  wiilnl  nhum  in  n 
ImlliNin.  Tint  hNitl  iiiiil  tin*  \vt'iiili«>r  w«*n>  in  llit>  iniwt  tuvonil>l«> 
ntjtttt  |NMMil>lt>,  iiM  w<<  IiikI  no  (lii>tt  tln>  wliolit  way,  iiikI  not  it  <lro|> 
ol*  ntin  Miint'ly  itflcr  l«>iivln)i:  'rriiiinit.  I  think  that  «hirin((  thi> 
loNt  tlvti  ilityM  niy  mind  hiu«  ^iiinttl  Hoini*  nmv  i<l«>tiM  ttnd  Hom<> 
pKiiNint  inllt^l<M.  I  n>gn'(  thiit  I  niUMt  iihnoitt  InMitntly  nhut  my 
h'ttiT.  I  hitvr  not  even  lN'«<n  in  my  own  nNiniNyot,  my  litnndmw 
iioUxf^  out  of  tho  way.  1  found  Tidd  at  tho  (Nir  w  UMiial.  IIv 
halt  ^ivon  nu*  a  very  kind  W(<li>omi>.  Whilo  I  have  Immmi  M'rilihlinff 
thiit  notit  I  liavo  hitd  to  ){ivi>  him  my  opinion  u|N>n  Hc'vvntl  knotty 
|M)intM  of  htw  which  ho  wiid  |M>rplox(<d  him  murh,  and  I  <itnu> 
vi>ry  op|Mtrtuni>ly  to  nnNwcr.  IMiin^in^  at  oni-o  into  huHincMN,  I 
ho|M>  I  Hlinll  (n>  ablo  to  drivi*  away  t\\o  mi'htncholy  thou^htM  which 
UM(«un«  would  have  allow(<il  t«»  inliudo  u|n)u  nu>,  and  which  with- 
out an  auxiliary  I  nhould  haw  found  it  very  diflUndt  to  (romUtt. 
Drury  liiinc  Theatre  o|M'n«  on  Hatimltiy.  I  nhall  huvo  plenty  of 
timo  to  Kt*t  my  iidmiMtton  r(>newe<l,  and  to  pn>|Ntrt>  for  ciiteriii|; 
oiiiv  n)or«>  u|M)n  the  (>riti»tl  ciiriH'r ;  hut  I  could  not  without  );reat 
inct)nvenien<<o  have  Invn  alim>nt  fn)m  town  two  days  lon^^er. 
Sinking  that  I  have  cmiiimhI  all  the  dangerM  of  the  journey,  I  ho|M> 
you  will  yourwlf  U>  glad  that  I  yielded  to  my  horror  of  the  hoii, 
anil  wiluH'rilKxl  to  the  d«»«>trine  of  oM  Cato. 

1  hope  to  hear  very  s<H>n  I'l-oin  yt>u  how  y«>u  axv  all  going  on — 
whether  the  irregularity  f«>ra  time  intnHluciHl  into  the  family  bnfl 
again  given  platv  to  appHi-ation,  and  whether  the  cheerfulness 
and  «»n'nity  riMgn  admidst  you  which  it  is  my  nhwt  fervent  wish 
tliat  you  may  all  constantly  enjoy.  .  .  . 

T«'mpl<>.  Soptoinbrr  22,  l«Oft. 

My  PKAU  BmvriiEii: —  .  .  .  Alas!  I  have  bidden  adieu  to 
My  native  country  ;»*  it  wert»  lor  ever.     My  father  talks  of  yet 


IHOA.I 


tKAHiw  Tc)  «riuT»:  nui  Tiir  •iinoxici.r.. 


till 


htivlntt  iiM*  r<>r  iiioiitliM  iiiKlcr  liU  nMit*.  ThU  cam  iirvrr  In*.  To 
huvi*  iiiiy  I'liiUKi*  of  mio't'w*  in  my  pnttivxion  I  niiwt  nnver  Ntir 
fW)m  my  iliumlicni.  A  ^ortlli^llt  will  In*  the  limit  of  my  viiiit 
in  thn  North,  at  Ui»t  tor  Mtnii*  yi^iini  to  (funn.  If  Fortune  Nhoiild 
iJuno  htr  lUm^nitntni  ami  Ntuili*  u|N>n  \w\  I  itlwll  not  nniil  to  titkd 
thin  long  Journey  for  mo  Mliort  ii  Ntiiy  ;  but  I  rIihII  bavo  my  fi.<m«lN 
Jor  month*  under  my  own  riMtf  in  KnKlnnd.  .  .  .  Thorn  in  on<> 
thing  in  your  lt't(i«rN  which  givcM  mc  concrrn :  you  MH>m  too  Min- 
guinc  an  t«>  my  MUMi>fw  in  the  law,  and  from  tho  lively  intcn*Nt 
you  take  in  my  fortunes  you  may  tliiM  ^'tifTcr  a  oruol  diMii)|)oint- 
mrnt.  Thingn  certainly  have  Innmi  k*>'"K  **»  ytxih  mn  of  Into 
•InioMt  w  well  UK  I  could  wiNh,  but  T  have  Mtill  many  ohatoelM 
to  Kurmount.  I  urn  coufM'iouM  how  meritoriouN  my  futhor**  oou- 
(luct  wiw  when  \  \tT\)\Mym[  toen((aK«>  in  thin  pumiit.  'It certainly 
nuiMt  have  a|)|M'ared  to  him  a  very  wild  and  dan^>rouit  achome, 
lH>HidcH  runninfi;  n>unter  to  hii*  own  plaiiH  and  prejudiccM.  Yet 
when  he  hhw  me  lN>nt  u|N>n  it,  he  y^wv  \m  conHunt  and  aaved  me 
the  |Niin  and  the  crime  of  diM(>tN>ying  hiH  commandn.  He  not 
only  did  w),  but  he  (^•nemuMly  lutMiHtcd  me  in  currying  my  atrh'^me 
into  ex(HMition.  '  Putting  niyHcIf  in  bin  plne(>,'  mm  you  dtwirc  me, 
I  do  not  think  I  Mhould  have  Itohave  I  ho  indulgently  to  a  Hon 
of  mine.  In  luiopting  a  new  profeHHJon  I  took  a  great  r(«|K)nHi- 
bility  u|)on  mynelf.  I  \\o\m  I  may  one  day  Ih>  able  to  unawcr  to 
my  friendM  tor  whot  I  tlid,  but  the  event  will  be  for  Home  time 
uncertain. 


Temple,  Doocinbor  28,  180ft. 

MydkakBkothkk: —  .  .  .  If  you  blamed  me  for  rantinuing 
my  cngngtmient  with  the  *Clironi«'le,*  you  must  praise  me  now, 
for  I  have  ndinquished  it.  I  am  no  longer  a  'uewH|)nper  man.' 
I  ooTild  not  conceal  from  you  the  growing  dislike  which  I  felt  to 
the  businew*  of  criticising.  The  n«ji««on  that  at  hwt  made  me  cut 
and  rxia.  was  my  Uterury  fnmr  having  ivached  the  ears  of  one  or 
two  men  in  the  office.  For  near  two  years  I  contrivcjl  to  keep 
it  all  snug,  although  in  a  state  of  |)cr)N>tual  alarm.  But  I  won 
Qot  able  to  do  80  any  longer.     I  therefore  solicited  leave  to 


182 


UFB  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1806. 


resign,  whiuh  won  grunted  me  in  a  very  kind  and  flattering 
manner.  My  functions  as  a  dramatic  censor  ceased  at  Christmas. 
You  know  I  ought  to  have  gone  on  till  the  end  of  July.  I  feel 
great  satisfaction  in  this  step.  My  mind  is  relieved  from  an 
oppressive  sense  of  degradation,  und  I  shall  now  proceed  with 
more  spirit  and  alacrity.  The  pecuniary  loss  is  trifling,  and  will 
never  be  felt  by  me. 

I  have  many  reasons  for  not  following  your  advice  to  push 
myself  into  fashionable  society.  You  are  not  to  think  that  thb 
office  is  like  a  solitary  study.  A  great  part  of  the  day  we  have 
just  as  lively  conversation  as  if  we  were  sitting  over  a  bottle  of 
wine.  It  is  not  only  politics,  but  all  occurrences  in  the  literary 
and  gay  world  arc  discussed  by  us.  We  have  amongst  us  men 
who  move  in  the  fii'st  circles,  and  I  have  'Life  in  London'  at 
least  at  second  hand.  I  believe  I  have  already  observed  to  you 
that  there  are  two  ways  for  a  man  to  get  on  her  —to  force  him- 
self into  notice  as  much  as  possible  at  once,  and  to  lay  in  obscurity 
the  foundation  of  future  eminence.  They  cannot  be  projxjrly 
blended  together.  The  first  Is  the  most  brilliiuit  and  imposing ; 
the  last  suits  betttu*  with  my  disposition  and  the  pcculiai'  circum- 
stances In  which  I  am  placed.  Though  I  now  creep  like  a  worm, 
let  us  hopo  that  I  shall  one  day  fly  about  like  a  butterfly.  The 
young  eagle  does  not  i*ashly  hsave  the  nest,  but  he  at  last  soars 
al)ove  the  clouds,  and  bears  the  thunderbolt  in  his  talons. 

[In  the  Autobiography  he  gives  the  following  account  of  relin- 
quishing his  engagement  with  the  'Morning  Chronicle,'  which 
had  lasted  five  years. — Ed.]  : 

About  a  year  before  I  was  called  to  the  bar  I  entirely  gave  up 
my  engagement  with  the  'Chronicle.'  Since  then  I  have  sent 
articles  to  be  inserted  In  the  paper,  but  I  have  never  received 
any  remuneration  for  them.  I  was  induced  to  renounce  this 
source  of  income  partly  from  the  apprehension  that  I  might  not 
be  so  well  considered  if  it  were  known  that  I  wrote  for  hire  In 
the  newspapers,  against  which  there  was  then  a  violent  preju- 


1806.] 


A  CX)XJECTURAL  CRITIOISH. 


183 


dice,  and  partly  because  I  fuund  my  attcuduncc  at  the  theatres 
in  the  evening  Honiotimes  clafih  with  my  pureuito  in  King's 
Bench  Walk.  On  one  occasion,  when  •Romeo  and  Juliet'  was 
acted  at  Covent  Ganlen,  I  was  obliged  to  stay  and  draw  a  long 
and  difficult  pica  which  must  be  on  the  file  next  morning  to 
prevent  judgment  being  signed.  For  the  first  and  only  time  in 
ray  life  1  wrote  a  conjectural  criticism,  without  having  wit- 
nessed the  performance ;  and  I  commente<l  uj)on  the  Monument 
scene  as  it  is  in  Shakespeare,  where  Romeo  dies  from  the  poison 
before  Juliet  awakes  from  her  tnmce.  Having  handed  this  to 
the  printer,  I  proceeded  for  a  little  relaxation  to  the  Cider 
Cellar  in  Maiden  Lane.  There,  to  my  horror  and  consternation, 
I  heard  from  a  pei-son  who  had  been  present  that  this  scene 
was  that  night  represente<l  according  to  the  alteration  by  Cibber, 
who  makes  Juliet  to  awake  while  Romeo  is  still  alive  but  after 
ho  has  swallowed  the  poison,  which  in  his  ecstasy  at  her  rovival 
he  forgets  till  he  feels  its  pangs.  I  ran  to  the  *  Morning  Chron- 
icle' office,  alteretl  my  criticism,  and  introduced  a  compliment  to 
the  spirited  and  tender  manner  in  which  Romeo  exclaimed  '  She 
lives,  she  moves,  and  we  shall  still  l)e  happy.'  Except  on  this 
occasion,  when  I  ha<l  taken  care  to  say  nothing  that  could  injure 
anyone,  I  can  truly  declare  that  my  criticiisms,  whether  well  or 
ill  founded,  were  the  result  of  my  own  observation  and  expressed 
my  genuine  opinion. 

I  ought  to  mention  that  Mr.  Perry  always  behaved  to  me  with 
great  kindness  and  liberality,  and  was  always  desirous  to  be  of 
service  to  me.  He  invited  me  to  his  house,  where  he  splendidly 
entertained  the  best  company,  including  Sheridan,  Tierney  and 
Mackintosh.  For  his  political  consistency  and  honorable  con- 
duct he  stood  high  with  all  the  leaders  of  the  Whig  party  in 
both  Houses,  and  by  his  excluding  all  scandal  from  his  journal 
and  abstaining  from  pei-sonal  attacks  on  political  opponents,  he 
raised  the  character  of  the  daily  press  in  this  country.  I  had 
afterwards  the  satisfaction  of  showing  my  respect  for  his  memory 
by  obtiiining  an  Indian  judgeship  for  his  son.  Sir  Erskine  Perry, 
whom  I  could  conscientiously  recommend  to  Sir  John  Hobhouse 
as  a  good  la^vyer  and  every  wav  above  exception. 


184 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1806. 


Temple,  Fabruary  0,  U06. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  am  afraid  I  may  have  given  you  an 
extravagant  notion  of  my  expectations  from  the  new  Chancellor."' 
His  appointment  may  '  load  to  Hoinething  advantageous  for  me/ 
but  it  is  yet  extremely  doubtful  whether  I  might  not  just  as  well 
have  seen  the  Great  Seal  still  in  the  hands  of  Lord  Kldon.  To 
crave  your  assistance  in  the  affair  is  my  obj<M^t  in  now  mldressing 
you.  What  I  wish  from  Lortl  Erskine  is  to  Im>  made  a  com- 
missioner of  Bankrupts.  This  is  considered  a  most  desirable 
thing  for  a  young  barrister.  The  pecuniary  emoluments  depend 
very  much  upon  jwrsoual  exertion — the  pay  is  accortling  to  the 
number  of  attendances  you  give.  By  diligence  in  the  ofKce  a 
man  may  moke  from  £150  to  j£200  a  year.  To  me  you  know 
this  would  be  independence.  On  Monday  last  Mr.  Tidd  wrote 
a  letter  to  Erskine,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

'Dear  Sir. : — Permit  nio  to  corigratuKato  you,  whicli  I  iriost  sincerely  do, 
upon  your  appointment  to  the  high  office  of  Lord  Chancellor,  which  I  under- 
stand hau  taken  place — an  appointment  which  aa  it  is  highly  deserved  so  1 
am  convinced  will  give  the  most  universal  satisfaction.  May  I  take  the 
liberty  of  recommending  to  your  patronage  two  gentlemen  wlio  are  desirous 
of  being  appointed  Commissioners  of  Bankrupts?  One  of  them,  Mr.  C.  C. 
Pepys,  you  are  already  acquainted  with,  having  introduced  him  to  me  as  a 
pupil.  The  other,  Mr.  John  Campbell,  who  lias  boon  more  than  two  years  my 
pupil,  is  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  Campbell,  of  Cupar,  Fife,  whom  you 
may  recollect  as  having  been  your  schoolfellow  at  St.  Andrews.  They  are 
both  young  men  of  very  considerable  legal  abilities,  most  unremitting  appli- 
cation, and  of  unexceptionable  principles,  and  as  I  am  under  particular  obli- 
gations to  each  of  them,  it  would  afford  me  great  satisfaction  to  be  the  means 
of  thus  contributing  through  you  to  their  advancement.  I.  have  the  honor 
to  be,'  (he. 

Tidd  dedicated  his  book  to  Eiskine,  and  thus  has  some  claim 
upon  him ;  but  by  recommending  two,  little  is  to  be  expected  for 
either.  This  Pepys  is  son  of  Sir  William  Pepys,  Bart.,  a  Master 
in  Chancery.  As  soon  as  Erskinc's  appointment  was  known,  I 
consulted  Spankie  about  the  means  of  getting  at  him,  who 


*  Lord  Erskine :  'All  the  Talents '  having  come  into  office  January,  1806. 
Pitt  died  January  23, 1806.— Ed. 


1806] 


LETTKK  TO   LORD    KFWKINE. 


186 


promised  to  do  what  he  could  in  my  favor.    On  Friday  night  I 
rooeivcHl  the  following  note  from  him : 

'Dkar  C.  : — I  this  (lay  mentioned  your  affair  to  Dick  Wilwon,  who  in  to  be 

Erskine'e  secretary.     lie  thinks  that  the  best  way  to  catch  Erxkino  will  bo 

for  your  father  to  write  him,  reminding  him  of  the  past,  Ac,  at  St.  AmlrewB, 

and  he,  Wilson,  will  back  the  business.     This  appears  feaviblo.     What  think 

you? 

'  Yours  truly,  R.  S,' 


Now  for  tt  proof  of  your  epistolary  genius !  The  task  is  certainly 
delicate  and  difficult,  but  you  are  fully  equal  to  it.  The  great 
point  will  be  to  make  the  letter  as  touching  as  possible.  For  this 
purpose  I  imagine  you  will  strive  to  recall  to  his  recollection  the 
scenes  of  your  boyhood.  Did  you  not  tell  me  you  had  seen  him 
in  London,  and  that  he  took  you  to  his  father-in-law's  ?  You 
know  his  wife  is  dead.  He  was  greatly  affected  by  this  event. 
When  you  come  to  mention  me,  I  don't  think  it  would  serve  any 
end  to  say  much  of  my  extraordlnari/  ment.  Dwell  however 
upon  the  satisfaction  I  have  given  to  Mr.  Tidd.  It  might  have 
a  good  effect  perhaps  if  you  were  just  to  hint  at  the  difficulties 
with  which  I  have  had  to  struggle  and  the  ardor  with  which  I 
have  persevered  in  my  hazardous  undertaking  of  following  the 
law.  This  letter  will  be  delivered  to  Erskine  by  Dick  Wilson. 
This  seems  better  than  soliciting  a  personal  interview  in  the  first 
instance.  Write  so  that  I  may  deliver  it  myself  if  we  should 
think  this  more  advisable.  You  will  perceive  the  necessity  for 
despatch.  One  morning  will  be  enough  for  you  to  write  the 
letter,  so  that  I  may  have  it  on  the  Tuesday  the  18th.  Either 
send  it  unsealed  or  let  me  see  a  copy  of  it. 

There  is  no  man  more  apt  to  be  swayed  by  impulses  of  sensi- 
bility and  kindness  than  Erskiue.  The  proper  address  I  imagine 
will  be  'The  Right  Honorable  Lord  P^rskine,  Lord  High  Ch.m- 
cellor  of  Groat  Britjiin,  London.'  If  I  suc(!eed,  it  will  be 
peculiarly  agreeable  to  my  feelings  and  flattering  to  my  pride 
that  I  can  ascribe  my  success  to  my  father.  I  have  neither  time 
nor  room  to  mention  any  other  subject  to  you. 

VOL.  L  8* 


186 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1806. 


!  I 


Temple,  MKrch  28,  IflOB. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  have  no  intelligence  to  com- 
muniaite  to  you.  With  regard  to  Erskino  I  know  nothing 
further  than  that  he  had  your  letter  put  into  his  hand.  Consider- 
ing the  multiplicity  of  business  now  oppressing  him,  you  cannot 
be  much  surprised  by  not  getting  an  immediate  answer.  Perry 
likewise  spoke  to  him  in  my  favor.  He  called  ui)on  him  a  day 
or  two  after  his  appointment  and  asked  two  things  from  him — 
a  living  in  the  church  for  an  old  friend  and  a  Commissioner  of 
Bankrupts  for  your  humble  servant.  The  first  Erskine  promised 
veiy  remlily  and  he  said  he  should  be  very  happy  to  serve  me, 
but  ho  did  not  know  exactly  when  it  might  be  in  his  power,  as 
he  had  so  many  applications  of  the  same  kind  from  other  quarters. 

Erskine  has  actually  presented  Perry's  friend  to  a  living,  the 
first  that  fell  vacant. 

On  Sunday  se'nnight  I  called  at  his  lordship's  house  with 
Tidd.     lie  was  *  not  at  home.'    We  left  our  cards. 

Temple,  May  12, 1806 

My  DEAR  Father  : —  .  .  .  What  do  you  think  of  the  success 
of  another  Fifian  ?  Wilkie  is  already  at  the  very  top  of  his  pro- 
fession. *  Village  Politicians '  is  not  only  out  of  sight  the  best 
piecie  in  this  year's  Exhibition,  but  the  English  school  has 
scoi'cely  ever  produced  anything  to  be  compared  to  it.  It  is  in 
tlie  very  best  style  of  Teniei-s.  The  most  skillful  judges  admin; 
it  most  rapturously,  and  it  is  now  quite  the  fashion  to  patron- 
ize the  astonishing  artist.  Wilkie  has  comniis-  "ons  from  many 
of  the  first  noblemen  in  the  kingdom,  and  inigh:  engage  for  more 
than  he  could  accomplish  in  seven  years.  His  i'oitune  is  made; 
his  fame  is  fixed.  It  is  pleasing  to  observe  that  the  flattery  he 
meets  with  only  stimulates  his  exertions  and  increastw  his  anxiety. 
He  has  very  judiciously  cut  portrait  painting  entirely.  The 
branch  of  the  art  for  which  natuie  seems  to  have  destined  him 
will  secure  him  riches  as  well  at  immortality.  He  still  conde- 
scends to  acknoAvledge  me, but  he  is  a  greater  and  moi-e  en\ial)le 
character  than  T  should  be,  crowned  with  the  most  brilliant  sue- 


1806.] 


LORD   MELVILI^e's  TRIAL. 


187 


cees  in  my  legul  puruuitH.  If  I  have  no  chants  of  great  renown, 
I  h()i>e  to  «»rn  u  HubMistcnce.  There  are  two  or  three  attorneys 
who  I  think  will  muke  trial  of  me, and  I  place  conHidoraMc  reliance 
iJl)on  the  zeal  of  Tidd  and  my  other  well-winhcrrt.  Diffidence  \b 
fcrtuiiily  my  gmnd  olwtacle  which  may  upset  mv  on  the  very 
throHhold,  hut  I  nhall  make  it  a  jioint  of  duty  to  di.oplay  the 
firmness  which  every  occasion  may  require.  My  health  I  can 
assure  you  is  excellent ;  I  have  abjured  the  nrx-turnal  studies  in 
which  I  used  sometimes  to  indulge,  and  I  have  u(»t  the  parch- 
ment comjilexion  which  is  the  true  standard  of  beauty  in  a  lawyer. 
I  never  knew  what  earthly  magnificence  was  till  yesterday, 
when  I  was  present  at  Lord  Melville's  trial.  Ye  gods!  the 
IMjeresses*  box!  A  glory  seemed  to  play  round  their  counte- 
nances, and  to  shoot  in  vivid  flashes  to  the  extremities  of  the 
Hall.  The  general  opinion  now  is  that  his  lordship  will  be  ac- 
quitted. Trotter  took  the  whole  blame  upon  himself.  Never- 
theless the  case  made  out  by  Romilly  for  the  prosecution  seemed 
to  be  exceedingly  strong.*  Ministers  get  on  very  badly  with 
their  military  plans.  Much  to  their  credit  nothing  is  known 
with  regard  to  the  communications  with  the  French  Govern- 
ment. It  is  said  that  Grenville  is  now  very  pacific  as  well  as 
Fox.  I  suppose  you  have  read  Brougham's  famous  pamphlet, 
'An  Enquiry'  &c.     How  dull  the  'Chronicle'  has  become! 


Temple,  Juno  4, 180t>'. 

My  dear  Father  : —  .  .  .  No  news  stirring.  The  sentence 
of  the  Lords  in  Melville's  case  may  yet  be  deferred  for  some 
time.  Ellenborough  and  Eldon  ax*e  battling  it  most  furiously. 
The  former  said  on  Thursday  night  that  something  laid  down  as 
law  by  the  latter  was  *  neither  law  nor  common  sense.' 

I  was  at  Windsor  last  Sunday,  and  had  an  opportunity  of 
being  within  half  a  foot  of  the  old  King.      I  fear  he  is  again 

*  The  charge  brought  against  Lord  Melville  was  that  be  had  allowed  the 
public  money  to  be  employed  in  speculation  in  the  funds  by  his  confidential 
agent  Mr.  Trotter,  for  his  own  private  advantage.  Ho  was  acquitted  by  the 
House  of  Lords  June  12, 1806.— Ed. 


IHH 


I.IFK  OK    I.OItl>  t'AMI'ilKI.I. 


[180«. 


goill^;    otl'ltH'tlu'    l»I(NMIlillX    (it*    t\\V    |M!ilM)'  UppriMU'llCH.        IIl>  WIIM 

hul)itc<l  in  (li(>  iiKMt  gmtoMiuo  inuniicr  that  it  iH  iHisHiblu  to  con- 
iH'ivc.  Wliitt*  Irutlirr  |iuiitnl<M)iiH  und  Imlf-lMiotM ;  ii  GoriiiHit 
giTiU-coiit  without  any  (>oat  iiiidci*  it ;  a  loii^  iiipici'  Htifkin^  out 
U'ncath  the  ^riat-coat ;  a  fhix«!U  uiiiHiwdoiiHl  lM>l>-wi){ ;  a  Hhovcl 
hat  liko  a  l>isho|t'H  with  a  hi);h  ^rcnadii'i*  fnithor  in  it;  and  h<> 
gro|HHl  his  way  with  a  huge  ^oid-hcadtnl  cano.  JUit  Iw  mvum\ 
iu  ({(mmI  Hpii'itH,  and  was  as  t4ill\ativt>  as  i>vi<i'.  Thoy  say  \w  Im>- 
ounicH  wry  fo\u\  of  Fox. 

Ttiinpit),  July,  IHOH. 

My  Dkaii  Fatiikii: —  .  .  .  Thci  lon^?  vtwation  is  iM'gun.  I 
worktnl  vi'ry  hani  in  Trinity  Toruj,  hut  kt'pt  my  hoalth  |K)i'tU'tly, 
und  was  happier  than  now  when  there  in  eoni|Ninitively  little  to 
do.  Tidd  has  nmde  me  some  fine  sptn^'hes.  Me  saiil  that,  tVoin 
the  state  t»f  his  health,  the  l>usine^ss  would  certainly  have  kiHH'keil 
him  up  l>ut  tttr  my  assistantr,  and  that  I  had  savtHl  his  lite  as 
nui«-h  as  the  man  who  omr  piekinl  him  out  of  the  H<>a.  flu 
wisheil  niueh  that  I  would  stav  another  vear,  and  oHiivd  me  an 
honorarium  of  X"J(M).  I  fear  I  shall  not  make  a  fourth  part  of 
this  sum  at  tlH>  luu*,  but  it  is  now  full  time  for  me  to  try  the 
);rand  experiment. 

J  rather  think  I  shall  not  stir  tVom  town  durinjr  the  sunnner. 
There  aiv  several  l»rain'hes  of  study  in  whieh  I  should  enpiije 
pivvious  to  lit';!"  ciilltMl  to  the  bar,  nnieh  mtuv  than  sutlieient  to 
Hll  up  the  interval.  1  have  lM>en  talkinji^  of  a  tour  to  the  Isle 
of  Wight  with  one  of  our  pupils,  Tanerinl,  brother  of  Sir 
Thomsis  Tanennl,  but  not  with  mu«'h  serious  thought  of  carry- 
ing it  into  elUrt.  .  .  . 

Did  you  partake  in  the  gt>neral  enthusiasm  which  is  saitl  to 
have  pos.sesj;!tHl  the  Scottish  nation  upon  the  accpiittal  of  lioril 
Melville?  The  resolution  still  stamis  upon  the  Journals  of  tho 
House  of  Commons  declaring  that  he  had  Ihh'U  guilty  of  a  cor- 
rupt violation  of  the  law,  and  that  he  is  unlit  ever  to  Ik?  adnutt(Hl 
into  his  Majesty's  councils.  It  was  sjiid  that  his  friends  meant 
to  have  this  ivscindetl,  but  they  liavo  prudently  desistetl  from  the 


1800.] 


TIIK    ntlN<'l->«H  OF   WAI.f>4. 


189 


attempt.  His  lonlHliip'H  (lolin(|U(>noy  Iiiih  iin(l(»iil>t(Hlly  Ixicn  very 
miK'h  4'XH){K('ntt(>(l.  It  <lcM>H  not  up|M>ar  to  tnu  thiit  Ih;  regularly 
|uirti<'i|>ut4><l  ill  Ti'utti'r'H  giiiiiH,  or  evcii  that  H(!lf-int(^r(>8t  wuh  tlio 
chict'  motive  (i»r  liirt  iiiiH4>oii(liict;  l>iit  liow  any  lionwt  man  could 
m'(|iiit  liiiii  of  lli<>  mim-oikI  and  third  chargcH  iH  ntill  to  mo  quite 
jncompi'chciiHihh'.  In  contnidictitm  to  Trotter'H  anHcrtion,  wo 
Imvc  hin  own  rxprcsH  ackiiowii^dgincnt  that  ho  wtiM  aware  the 
haliinccs  in  tho  payniaxtor'n  hands  won^  appliod  with  a  view  to 
private  cniolntnonl;  and  it  is  as  cloar  as  the  sun  at  noonday  that 
ho  cniild  not  havo  Imh'Ii  ignoiiint  of  tho  Hountos  from  which 
Ti'ottor  sii|'|)li(>d  him  with  money  to  1k^  us(>d  without  inturoflt. 
It  is  undeixtood  that  ho  means  to  rotiro  from  publio  life.  The 
Op[>usitioii  Mil  said  to  dis(!ountonaiUH>  tho  idea  of  hiH  joining 
thum.  IIoow(s  his  tot4il  a(;<iuittal  to  tho  King,  who  disliked  the 
idea  of  u  oourti«'r  being  brought  to  justice,  and  was  moreover 
afraid  for  his  favoriti;  son,  tho  gallant  York.  Tho  IxHlchamber 
liords  and  tho  'King's  friends'  woi"c  all  for  tho  culprit. 

liord  Melville's  trial,  however,  is  now  amipletely  superseded 
by  tho  attair  of  tho  PriiMioss  of  Wales.  .Nothing  is  yet  certainly 
known  upon  tho  subject.  Tho  sense  of  the  public  is  very  strong 
against  tht;  i'rinoo,  and  most  {n'ople  are  inclined  to  think  that  he 
oireulatwl  tho  storv  to  ruin  her  character  and  to  facilitate  his 
8(!hemos  for  a  divow^o.  Ijady  Douglas  and  others  notwithstand- 
ing (whether  suborned  by  him  0ml  knows)  are  supposed  to  have 
come  forward  and  deposed  either  that  thcj  Princess  was  with 
child,  or  that  she  had  been  (larryiiig  on  an  improper  intercourse 
with  more  than  one  individual.  Their  evidence  was  given 
U'ton^  tho  Prince's  council  and  was  afterwards  submitted  to  the 
King.  Upon  tho  advice  of  Lord  Thurlow,  it  was  sjiid,  the 
atlair  was  remitted  to  the  Privy  Council,  and  a  committee  was 
appoiutetl  to  investigate  it.  Several  meetings  have  been  held, 
and  a  number  of  witnesses  have  been  examined,  but  no  report 
has  yet  boon  made.  The  Princess  behaves  very  heroically.  '  She 
has  dismissetl  all  her  servants,  that  no  improper  bias  may  lie 
suspected  to  exist  upon  their  minds,  and  she  insists  upon  a 
public  inquiiy.     Whatever  her  deportment  may  have  been,  she 


190 


MKK  OV   I.Ol(l>  i'AMI'HKI.r.. 


[1H06. 


nuiH^  be  piti(x]  in  Imving  Ihi'ii  iiiiito<l  to  hiicIi  iui  unprincipled 
profligiito. 

I  am  vcxwl  to  think  yon  luivc  not  yvt  got  a  hoi-K'.  If  you 
ha<l  Im'om  very  lU'tivc  you  inuHt  have*  li^litctl  n|M>n  one  to  Huityou 
long  iig<».  PrrliapH  the  money  npproprititeil  tor  thin  |HiriM)H(>  hiw 
gone  to  (IcIVay  Home  neeesHury  expense.  It'  w»,  I  shall  s^'iul  you 
down  jE.'K)  without  delay. 

It  in  very  unreasonahle  in  you  to*  ex|K>et  the  same  measures 
from  a  man  in  oHlee  he  recommended  in  oppwition.  Fox  is 
doing  an  Lon\  Chatham  and  every  other  Minister  since  the  Revo- 
lution did.  Burdensome  as  the  income  tax  in,  I  doid>t  if  the 
same  sum  could  \yo  raised  with  less  vexation  to  the  subject.  .  .  . 

Tomplo,  Hnptoniber,  1806. 

MydearBiiotiier: —  .  .  .  Tancrc<l  sets  otl' for  his  brother's 
on  Saturday  and,  if  I  am  not  tied  here  by  tln»  f(M)t,  I  shall  he 
very  solitar)'  and  forlorn  during  the  following  five  or  six  weeks. 
You  might  supjmse  that  on  the  eve  of  Ix'ing  <'alle<l  to  the  bjir 
my  professional  studies  would  go  on  with  vast  spirit  and  would 
yield  me  constant  and  dtilightful  (K-cupatijjn.  It  is  not  so  :  I  am 
not  able  to  read  law  with  any  vigor  or  protit.  I  don't  know 
whether  it  is  that  I  had  a  surfeit  iK'fore  the  vaiiition  began,  or 
that  my  mind  is  relaxed  by  my  indisposition,  or  that  I  have 
acquiretl  almost  as  much  legal  knowKtdge  as  I  can  retain  as  n 
mere  student,  and  that  I  stand  in  n(!ed  of  the  stimuli  of  fees  and 
public  appoaninces.  My  stock  is  not  contemptibli-  ('(trnpared 
with  that  of  other  men  commencing  their  carwr,  althcmgh  very 
small  compared  with  what  I  ought,  and  hope  some  day,  to  pos- 
sess. About  a  month  ago  Tidd  mwlitated  an  excursion  to  Ire- 
land and  desii'ed  me  to  answer  all  the  <!iwes  an<l  do  all  the  busi- 
ness for  him  that  might  Ik,-  brought  in  during  his  absence. 
About  two-thirds  of  his  cases  by  laborious  rcsciirches  in  the  law 
books  I  could  venture  to  give  some  kind  of  answer  to ;  the  other 
third  I  could  scarcely  with  a  good  conscienw  meddle  with. 
Elocution  will  be  found  my  chief  deficiency.  However  I 
improved  a  little  in  the  end  of  last  season  and  I  have  laid  down 


1806.] 


VIHIT  T(J  THE  ISLE  OF   WIUIIT. 


in 


guoil  rcDulutioiiH  fur  the  ciiHuing  one.  I  huvc  Honic  thou^htM  of 
tukitig  a  few  Iohhoiih  iVotii  Mr.  Thelwnll.  Byo  the  bye,  I 
attciKlcd  fJrorge  Dyer,  the  |)oet,  »eveml  wcckH  and  rcwl  Greek 
utul  lititin  with  him.  I  improvoil  a  g(MKl  deal  in  the  Englitih 
pruuiinciation  of  Imth  languages  and  iUMjuircd  a  com{M!tent 
knowledge  of  the  principleM  of  vei-sification,  but  to  enable  n»e  to 
(|Uote  with  jronfidenco  I  should  retjuire  to  read  for  years  under 
the  corraition  of  a  gtMxl  claHKieal  Hcholur.  My  reading  through 
the  BUinnuT  has  been  chiefly  plays  and  roniant^H.  Of  these  I 
have  travelle<l  through  whole  cartloadH.  Even  'Sir  Charles 
Grandison'  did  not  stop  rac.  The  circulating  libraries  are  now 
quite  exhausted,  and  I  am  afraid  I  must  learn  Spanish  with  the 
same  view  as  Lord  Camden. 

Fox  is  at  the  last  gaap.*  Whether  he  will  leave  the  country 
at  war  or  in  {Miace  is  yet  undecideil.  The  battle  of  Maida  has 
ruiscd  our  spirits  and  is  certainly  more  important  than  a  victory 
by  sea.  Things  look  better  in  the  North  of  Europe  too ;  but 
at  this  moment  it  is  idle  to  think  of  resisting  Bonajiarte  by 
force.  A  fourth  coalition  would  lead  to  a  peace  to  be  concluded 
at  Berlin.  Parliament  I  hope  will  not  be  dissolved  till  after  I 
am  called,  as  there  is  just  a  bare  possibility  that  I  might  be 
employed  at  some  election. 

Temple,  October  b,  IbOri. 

My  dear  George: —  .  .  .  Since  my  last  I  have  had  a 
delightful  excursion  to  the  country.  Tancred  left  town  on  Sat- 
urday the  13th  ult.  and  pressed  me  to  follow  him  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. I  hesitated  a  good  deal,  for  I  was  of  some  use  in  the 
office,  and  my  Margate  trip  had  cost  me  a  great  deal  more  than 
I  expected.  However  I  found  that  I  could  easily  get  away  and 
upon  mature  deliberation  I  concludetl  I  should  probably  have 
value  for  all  the  money  I  was  obliged  to  lay  out.  Accordingly 
at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Tu&sday  the  2.3d  I  was  upon 
the  top  of  the  Southampton  stage-coach.  The  weather  was  fine 
and  I  had  a  charming  ride  through  Surrey  and  Hants.     About 


^Pox  died  at  Chiswick,  September  13, 1806.— Ed. 


IM 


I.IKI-:  OF   I,OI(l>  CAMI'llKM.. 


[1806. 


tcvon  ill  the  cvciiiiitf  I  urrivttl  ut  iSoutliiiiiiptoii,  wlicn>  1  Mlvpt. 
N(>.\t  iiioriiing  I  Haili>«l  hy  the  parkct  for  ('(>wi<h  in  llic  IhIu  of 
Wif^lit.  I  iH'vor  Miw  unytliiiij;  im>  lM>iuitiriil  iw  tlin  ImiiiI<m  of  tiiv 
Hoiitliiiinptoii  Water,  I  laving  hnultCuMtcd  in  u  tuvcrn  ut  Cowiw, 
I  |ir<MiHMJi't|  to  Sir  ThonmM  TaiH'ird'ii.  I  fouml  my  frioiul  Ilnrry 
111  lioiiid  aiid  was  rcn'ivid  with  diHtinction  by  Hir  TlionutM  and 
Jiiidy  TancnHl.  Htw  I  H|»t'nt  a  wiH'k  iwrfw-tly  to  my  HiitiHlar- 
tioii.  Tlic  TaiHTcdH  arc  not  ri«li,  Imt  they  havt;  a  niunlMT  of 
great  «'<>iine«'tionH  and  live  in  the  very  Inst  M«H'iety.  Their  man- 
nerH  are  (hiiH  refin(><i  and  of  eoiirMe  |M>rteetly  oa^y.  I  wan  (piite 
lit  home  from  the  tiinu  ot'  entering  thu  houHC.  The  morning 
WUH  H|u<iit  in  Hailing,  fiHhing,  and  touring  about  the  iHJand.  In 
the  evening  we  luul  iinwie,  reailing  and  eonversution. 

One  morning  we  hire<I  a  cutter  and  vinitwl  Portsmouth.  Do 
you  riH'olIeet  ft  f.)rmer  (KruMion  when  I  wiHhetl  unxiouHJy  to  g«> 
to  tliin  ]»la<v?  I  now  imaginetl  to  mytwlf  the  Hpot  fnun  whieh 
you  H(e[>t  in  emluirking.  Tanen>d  and  I  traveHMl  over  ahno't 
the  whol(>  of  the  ishmd  in  n  gig.  I  need  not  my  that  I  wiw 
hi}ihly  pleaseil  with  the  vuriouM  picturefH]uu  views  that  t-ontin- 
ually  i)n'Men(«'<l  thi'mwelves.  During  these  journeyings  I  re(!eive(l 
some  K^ssoiw  in  (hiving.  I  am  now,  I  flatter  myself,  a  tolerable 
whip.  Wc  returned  as  wc  camo  by  Southampton.  Sleeping 
there  on  Tuesilay,  wc  next  evening  renehcd  London.  I  look 
back  on  the  tour  with  eomplaconey. 

To-morrow  T  see  a  sueeeHsor  elected  to  Mr.  Fox,  and  on  Fri- 
day I  witness  Mr.  Fox's  i'uneral !  Ilis  surviving  colleagues  are 
suppose*!  to  stiiik  together  j)retty  well.  Whitbread  will  prove  a 
considei'able  ac(|ui.sltion  to  them.  All  idea  of  peace  is  abandoned. 
It  is  suj)p()se(l  we  must  first  see  the  event  of  the  contest  between 
France  and  Priissiu.  The  mail  due  yesterday  is  expecttnl  to 
bring  intelligence  of  hostilities  having  conmienccd.  Wc  are 
nithcr  in  spirits  by  the  caj)ture  of  Buenos  Ay  res,  and  of  these 
five  fine  frigates.  Upon  the  whole  things  look  better  for  us 
than  they  did  throe  months  ago.  But  who  can  tell  what  will 
have  linppened  before  this  reaches  Agra?  May  it  find  my  dear 
George  well  and  happy,  i)rays  fervently  his  most  affectionate 
brother,  J.  C. 


1800.] 


FKAItN  OP    INVAHION. 


Ur.i 


Titmple,  OetoUr  2ft,  180«. 

My  drar  nitoTiiRR: —  .  .  .  Tlio  puhlifl  diHimti^hra  tell  un 
that  all  in  tmiKpiil  in  Iiidiii,  mid  I  hIiiiII  liop<!  that  you  huvo  \m<n 
Icudin^  n  moO,  vwy  ritid  iinruniiMl  liCd!  in  your  now  dwolliuK.  What 
drciidiul  wcnrH  am  uctiu)!;  in  Kuro|H>l  ilmvun  knowM  whether 
it  will  \oim  Im>  d(>Nlnil)lc  (or  you  to  return  to  it.  In  the  RourMe  of 
a  f\'w  yonrM  you  niiiy  not  have  n  njuntry.  Kvcry  fiort  of  the 
Continent  Houtli  of  the  Haltio  in  nonapurte'H  om  fully  iw  the 
dopnrtnicnt  of  the  Seine,  and  nil  the  enrr^iiw  of  hix  vib«t  empire 
will  now  l)e  dini^tod  with  runcoroiiHHkill  a^aiuHt  Kn|{lnnd,  with- 
out tt  vi)i;orouH  HtntcHnian  or  nn  oxi>cri(<need  general.  For  the  ulti- 
mate inde|M>nd<'iut!  of  the  <!()untry  I  nni  not  seriouMly  alarmed,  in 
ttpito  of  all  the  diMadvanta(^  with  which  we  mrry  on  the  Htniggle ; 
hut  before  you  revisit  uh,  I  think  we  Hhall  have  witncwied  mueh 
confuHion,  and  have  met  with  nuuiy  mlamitittfl.  Pcaou  while 
Donaparte  liveH  now  H4>emH  utterly  unattainable.  That  we  nhall  l>e 
able  for  n  \onf^  |)cri(Hl  to  HjMtnd  Heventy  millions  u  year  \n  altogether 
iiniM)fwible.  The  fundH,  I  think,  will  go  in  the  firat  inMtance. 
But  Bonaparte  in  too  wine  to  ex[)ect  to  conquer  us  through 
iinaiieial  dinioulticH.  lie  looks  to  landing  100,000  men  uik)U 
our  nhores,  and  he  nuiy  now  make  the  exi)erimcnt  without  any 
riHk  to  his  reputation  or  hiH  |>ower.  There  iu  nothing  ho  deHiru- 
l)l(i  for  thin  country  an  that  he  hIiouUI  attempt  an  invoMion,  if 
the  resourccH  of  the  country  were  pro|K!rIy  directed.  What  the 
conHequcn(.>e8  may  l)e  when  we  meet  Bonaparte  and  his  marHlialH 
under  our  King  and  his  houh,  I  have  not  courage  to  contemplate. 
We  can  only  hope  that  Providence  moy  work  our  deliverance 
when  we  at  least  expect  or  deserve  it.  At  such  a  moment  one's 
])rivate  affairs  appear  quite  insigniflcunt  and  uninteresting.  If 
I  had  the  brightest  prospects  of  professional  succcas,  my  mind 
would  still  Iwi  weighed  down  by  the  public  misfortunes.  .  .  . 

November  3. — For  eight  or  ten  days  I  have  been  too  busy  to 
have  much  time  for  reflection;  tanl  micux — my  spirits  are  better 
than  they  were,  and  perhaps  than  they  ought  to  be,  upon  a  just 
view  of  my  situation.  However,  I  feel  alive  as  the  moment 
approaches  for  ray  being  invested  with  the  wig  and  gown.     I 

VOL.  I.  Sf 


IM 


l.l»>'.  OK    M)lll>  lAMI'IIKM. 


[1806. 


mil  wiiiii'mIiiiI  lik«*  a  )'ol|ll^;  ^irl  iiImmiI  (ii  nii«>r  ii|Hiii  ti  iimrriiiKn 
fViiMi  wliii  li  Aw  niti'l  n>nfMiii.'il>l)'  i>«|M><t  iniirli  liu|i|»iiiiM.  Ainiilw 
nil  lii'i' rMri-lHHliii^'M  mill  ii|>|>rcli*>iiM!niM  h\»>  llmU  mtiiit-iliiii^  imnt>- 
aIiIi*  in  till-  I)iim||i>  III'  |)n>|Mimlioii,  uimI  n|ii>  nJuiit-M  ut  uiiy  mtf  Ut 
nNii|M<  t'l'Diii  a  Htiiti>  nf  tIfHiiiMil  .«|iin'«tn>|ii|i.  'rii«<  cull  will  Ih> 
iK'iir  tlio  cihI  of  tli«>  nioiilh.  William  Ailaiii  mIhmiIiI  Iiuvi>  \mt- 
INiMtl  iiu>  III  llic  Im>iii'Iii<i-h,  liiit  III'  in  in  Kiliiiliiir^li  <•ll|N>rintl<lMlill^ 
ill*'  SmiIm  fin'lioiirt. 

Allrr  ill)' IhiIIIc  III' AiK'i'Mlatlt*  I  hii|>|nimi>  yoii  i*\|h-i'I  In  lirar  oI' 
tilt*  iNiltli'itf  l>iivi<r  or  llii'  iNittli'  oi'  Ulai'klii'ulli.  Ymi  may — liiil 
with  aiiollii'r  ihmiii'  Io  iIii>  Kii'iirli.  Tlii'  kiii^^lom  Ih  all  in  a  laiH||i> 
willi  llii'  y:«'nrml  I'lii-liiiii.  Tin*  nlil  Wlii^H  un>  iiii|Mi|iiilar  Himi' 
lli«>y  U'ttinu'  iilaiiMiirii.  CihiiiiIn'  In  Iiiwi-hI,  in  llii>  Cily.  Ticrni'V 
Im  Hiin*  III  Im>  llirown  mil  in  Smitliwark,  anil  llii'  nmli  woiilil  not 
hnir  Slii'fiilan  N|M>ak  u  woiil  IimIuv  in  (Invnit  (ianli'ii.  '  Puiill 
anil  till'  iMiipli'!'  i>*  llu-  i-ry.  '  i*iiiill  lor  v.wvl  no  |ii-o|M*rty  lax  ! 
no  itii|iiiHitiiiii !  no  Wi'lli'slcy  !'  Alilioii^li  ilii>  tailorV  win  wa^ 
){rt'atly  at  llu'  lirail  of  tlii'  |miII  li^iliiy,  I  ilon't  In'Movo  lie  will  Im> 
n'tiiriii>(l.  You  will  tlnd  IiIh  li'tli'r  to  lioiil  Kolki'Httiiic  vrry 
iHirioiiM.     I  nit'an  to  si>ni|  yon  olV  a  |Nirii>l  himhi. 

lVm|il.',  Novi-inbcr  10.  IMOiJ. 

My  ukau  Katiiku: — TliiMlay  lor  tim  nill  is  not  yvX  al)«^- 
Inti'ly  HmhI,  luit  lliat  yon  may  not  Imvo  the  troiililn  of  si'niliii}; 
iViiini'ntly  to  the  |io.Ht-mni«t!  in  vain,  I  .sit  ilown  to  writo  u  I'uw 
lin«>.H  foiKvrning  tlio  Htrps  ulrcaily  taken.  On  Saturday  Tiild 
wroti!  a  U'ltor  to  Sir  V'iniry  (iililM,  of  wliicli  tlii'  following  iH  ii 
iH»|»y ; 

'  Sill  —I  l)«>^  li'ftTo  t«  infroiliicc  to  your  riotii-o  Mr.  John  rniiipli"n,  n  jiupil 
mill  iriinil  of  luiiu',  who  winlim  to  Ih^  oullcil  to  ilic  Imr  nt  IiincolnV  Inn  thin 
torni,  uml  i*  nnziouH  to  liitvo  the  honor  of  hxint;  propoMiul  to  the  btnch  by 
you  II)'  hHM  lii'i'ti  my  pupil  for  thrco  y<Hiii,  iluriii^  whii-h  tiiiio  I  huvn 
klorivoil  tlio  gri'itttv^t  liiiii-tii  Irom  hi«  ii>MHtnnto,  an<l  from  nn  intiiiiato  kiiowl- 
tnlgo  of  ihi<  t|u:ilitii'i«  of  bin  head  iiml  lu'nrt  I  h,ivo  no  doubt  ho  will  bo  an 

•On  Octobor  10 ami  12,  I80rt,  Napoleon  doHtroyed  th«  PruMian-i?axon  army 
in  the  doublo  battle  of  Auorntadt  and  Jona. — Rd. 


WW.] 


CAIXBD  TO  TIIK  II A  It. 


IDA 


honor  In  lh«  iiroffMlon     Tti*  d«iI  p*rll»m«ni  will  h*  on  Tmp»<I»)  ,  fta<i  it 

jroii  will  tlmii  hit  M)  ((Dfxi  M  proptMo  htm  tn  Ihn  Ixtuch,  yoii  wtll  oMik*,  Rtr, 

tour  ubtKlimii,  liumliU  «Nrvftnt, 

•  W.  TiDO. 

'Tumpl".  Nnvxmbor  *,  |WW 

To  wliirii  tliiH  iiiiNwor  liiiMJiiHl  Ut'ii  rcti'ivtHl: 

*Hir  V>«'*ty  (lilihN  {ifKiiKnii  In*  tnin|<hiiii>iit«  tn  Mr  Ti<l<l  »n>l  will  ink*  car* 
llikl  Mr.  ('itin|iUn  ultitll  U  |irii|Hwiii|  ut  l.iiirolii'ii  Inn  tin  TuosUty. 

'liintoln't)  Inn,  .Sun<Uy.' 

At  tint  lli-Ht  itiiiiiril  or  iNirliiiiiH'iit  ii  inotion  m  niiulit  that  the 
petition  |in'M>iii4<<l  In*  niinpliiil  with.  A  mh-oikI  iftiiiicil  or  |iar- 
liamptit  in  then  ii|>|HiintcHl  nt  tlMMliHtaim'  of  moiihi  iliiyH,  wlimi  the 
motion  iM  pnt.  irnirriii!  it  \n  then  onlmil  that  tin;  now  ImrriHtiT 
Iw  piililiHhisI  next  «liiy.  ThiH  n>n'rnoriy  \n  |N>rtorni<Hl  in  tlin  hull 
alkr  (linn<T,  nn<l  in  in  conunon  iHuiunn'  tin*  luill  to  tlw  (tar.  1 
hIiuII  |in»lHilily  Im>  inv«>Ht«<il  with  thr  \\\\f  mu\  ^own  iilMUit  the 
onil  of  thiH  wn>k  or  the  iN'^innin^  oC  tlie  next.  I  hiivc  no  time 
to  luhl  more  nt  |)reH4>nt 

T''ni|)liv  Novomlicr  HI,  1806. 

My  dkaii  (Hkoiuih: — Itehold  nie  a  iHirrlNter-at-liiwI  I  wan 
mlle«l  yestenlay.  On  TiieHlny  last  I  was  |iro|NiHe(l  at  n  wmn<!il 
of  the  iN'neherK  of  Lincoln'H  Inn  hy  Sir  V'imry  (lihlw.  Theonler 
for  Miy  rail  parsed  on  Friday  anil  (lieeereniony  ttK)k  phuv  yentcr- 
•Iny.  Thin  eonHirfttMl  merely  in  Mwearin^  Home  otitliH  a^^ainst 
h)|M>ry  and  ^oin^^  thnaigh  the  form  of  a  le^al  ar^nment.  There 
were  v'l^Ut  of  nH<'alle<l  toj;etlier.  The  lieneherH  did  um  the  Imnor 
to  drink  to  onr  HUl>ee^4H  in  the  parliament  ehaml)er,  after  which 
tlipy  withdrew  and  onr  private  frientln  were  intrmlnet'd,  with 
wlinni  we  eontinmnl  over  tin;  claret  till  midnight.  Mine  wore 
not  the  least  rcsiHH'tjd)^! — fonr  Cantalw — an  ex-fellow  of  Pcm- 
lu'oke  (Palcy),  a  fellow  of  Trinity  (Coltman),  a  fellow  of  Christ'H 
(Cristlale),  »nd  a  fellow  <'lo<'t  t»f  Jesus  (Tancred).  The  expenMJ 
of  my  call  ultogelht^r  will  Ix;  al)ont  JCTiO,  not  nmch  cxcowlinp; 
my  deposit.    From  your  remlttanw's  T  am  able  not  only  to  clear 


11)6 


LIFK  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1806. 


all  this,  but  to  provide  myself  with  a  very  respectable  law  library. 
I  start  with  all  the  advantages  money  could  procure  me.  I  shall 
not  spare  your  dust  to  make  a  dashing  appearance.  I  have 
retained  a  hairdresser  to  cauliflower  my  head  who  has  improved 
me  twenty-five  per  cent.  I  look  devil inh  knowing  with  my  gown, 
wig  and  band,  as  you  shall  see  when  Wilkie's  portrait  reaches 
Agra.  I  go  down  to  Westminster  Hall  to-morrow  morning  to 
be  sworn  in  before  the  judges  of  the  King's  Bench.  The  rank 
of  barrister  will  have  a  favorable  effect  upon  me.  This  is  not 
childish  vanity,  but  the  result  of  reflection— confidence  inspired 
by  a  knowledge  of  life  and  mankind. 


1806.] 


MI8   VIKWH  «)K    MAItlllAUE. 


197 


CHAPTEU  VII. 

Deoehber,  1806— Deoehbeb,  1807. 

Hif  Firat  Term — His  Clerk— Engaged  to  Write  a  Book  on  the  Law  of  Part- 
nership— Attends  the  Surrey  Sessions — The  Home  Circuit — Fielding — 
Holland— Qarrow — Serjeant  Shepherd — Serjeant  Best — Lawes — Marryat 
— The  Duke  of  Portland  Succeeds  Lord  Qronville  as  Prime  Minister — 
Interview  with  Lord  Breadalbane — Answers  Cases  for  Marryat — Second 
Circuit — Sessions  at  Guildford — In  Low  Spirits  at  the  end  of  his  First 
Year  at  the  Bar — Agreement  with  Buttorworth  to  Report  Nisi  Prius 
Cases. 

Temple,  December  3, 1806. 

My  DEAr*  Brother  : —  ...  If  you  think  matrimony  at  pre- 
sent likely  to  add  to  your  comfort,  I  most  sincerely  wish  you  may 
speedily  meet  with  a  woman  worthy  to  became  your  bride.  I 
really  think  that  if  a  man  looks  to  domestic  enjoyments  he  should 
not  be  late  in  marrying.  To  wait  till  you  revisit  this  country 
might  be  too  great  a  sacrifice.  Nor  do  I  see  that  the  thoughts 
of  children  should  at  all  discourage  you.  You  will  be  able  to 
give  them  education  with  which  they  will  make  their  way  better 
than  with  a  portion  of  the  fortune  you  might  accumulate  by 
remaining  for  some  yeai's  a  bachelor.  When  I  am  in  spirits  and 
give  way  to  my  reveries  I  conceive  myself  in  a  situation  to  be 
useful  to  your  children,  and  able  to  push  them  forward  in  life. 
I  am  sure  I  should  love  them  as  tenderly  as  if  they  were  my 
own  offspring.  Upon  the  whole,  knowing  that  you  will  do 
nothing  imprudent,  I  should  heyjr  of  your  marriage  with  the 
greatest  .satisfactir<M.  But  x  know  not  whether  you  are  the  more 
likely  to  marry  from  talking  about  it.  Your  determined 
bachelor  is  most  readily  noosed.  My  own  views  upon  the 
subject  remain  without  nmch  alteration.  I  might  as  well 
speculate  about  what  I  shall  do  in  a  future  state  of  existence. 
I  can't  marry  before  making  £700  a  year,  and  at  present  I 


198 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1806. 


see  little  prospect  of  my  ever  umking  jETO.  During  my 
first  term  I  had  not  even  a  half-guinea  motion.  To  be  sure 
there  were  about  thirty  men  calknl  during  the  term,  and  of  these 
only  one  had  anything  to  do.  So  I  have  partners  in  misfortune. 
I  have  been  retained  in  a  eause  (Iloddinott  v.  Cox). which  was  to 
have  been  tried  in  London  at  the  wittings  after  term,  but  is  put 
off  for  some  months ;  retaining  fee,  o)u;  guinea.  After  returning 
from  Court  the  last  day  of  te*m  I  had  the  offer  of  a  half-guinea 
motion  but,  instead  of  going  down  to  Westminster  again,  I 
thought  it  better  to  be  able  to  say  that  for  my  first  term  I  did 
not  wish  to  exhibit  myself,  and  therefore  declined  business  offered 
to  me.  I  shall  continue  for  a  short  while  longer  to  attend  Tidd's 
office  two  or  three  hours  a  day.  I  must  keep  myself  in  his  sight 
or  he  would  forget  me  utterly.  He  has  goodnaturedly  enough 
got  me  a  little  job  to  do,  from  which  I  shall  derive  considerable 
advantages.  A  man  at  the  bar  is  going  to  publish  a  book  with- 
out having  abilities  to  write  it.  I  am  to  assist  him.  The  l)ook 
is  already  sold  to  a  bookseller  for  £150,  one-half  of  which  sum 
falls  to  my  share.  Moreover  the  author  is  very  nmch  beloved 
by  the  profession,  and  is  to  introduce  me  to  some  of  the  leading 
members  of  it.     For  the  present,  adieu  ! 

Temple,  January,  1807. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  I  have  for  some  days  spoken 
almost  perpetually  of  '?m/  derk.^  Who  do  you  think  this  object 
of  my  boasts  may  be  ?  A  s(!i'ubbv  boy  nine  years  old,  son  of 
my  washerwoman.  He  can  scarcely  rcjid,  far  less  write,  but  he 
blacks  my  shoes  in  the  morning,  brushes  my  coat,  carries  down 
my  wig  to  Westminster,  and  goes  errands  for  me  to  all  parts  of 
the  town.  The  only  use  I  have  for  a  clerk  is  to  keep  the  cham- 
bers open,  and  this  he  tsan  do  as  well  as  if  he  had  tiikon  his 
degree  at  Oxford.  When  I  am  Attorney-General  lu'  uiuy  per- 
haps, like  Erskine's  clerk,  be  worth  £20,000,  receiving  £6  per 
cent,  on  all  his  master's  fees ;  but  at  present  he  is  satisfied  with 
being  clothed  from  my  old  wardrobe  and  receiving  ha.  a  week. 

By  the  sessions,  circuit,  &c.,  my  expenses  during  the  ensuing 


[1806. 


1807.] 


PUBLIC  AFFAIRS, 


109 


year  iiiiint  be  conaiderublc,  but  I  feel  not  ut  ull  disheartened, 
having  yon  to  rely  u[Min.  About  the  month  of  July  I  shall 
receive  £76  from  *  The  Law  of  Partnership,*  and  perhaps  I  may 
make  some  £6  or  jCIO  in  the  course  of  the  season  in  the  way  of 
fees.  Although  T  do  not  see  my  way  very  clearly,  I  am  not 
discouraged.  Difficulties  greater  than  those  I  have  now  to 
encounter  I  have  alrciuly  surmounted,  and  by  continued  industry 
and  perseverance  I  do  not  despair  of  your  finding  me  of  some 
consequence  at  the  bar  when  the  happy  day  arrives  of  your 
return  to  England. 

The  state  of  public  affaire  t«ntinucs  sufficiently  gloomy.  Our 
only  ally  now  is  the  disease  which  is  said  to  carry  off  the  French 
very  fast  in  Poland.  I  am  not  without  hopes  that  in  some  way 
or  another  Bonaparte  may  yet  meet  with  a  reverse.  Should  he 
be  defeated  on  the  banks  of  the  Vistula,  I  do  not  see  how  he 
would  be  able  to  rwjross  the  Elbe,  far  less  the  Rhine.  The  con- 
duct of  the  Government  in  the  negotiation  is  universally  approved 
of.  In  fact  it  is  idle  to  talk  of  peace  with  Bonaparte.  Peaw 
can't  well  be  his  interest,  and  all  ties,  human  and  divine,  he 
despises.  Ministere  become  rather  more  popular.  Their  speeches 
in  the  new  Parliament  have  done  them  much  credit.  Lord 
Howick  (Grey)  is  now  leader  of  the  House  of  Commons.  I 
was  there  on  Monday,  the  first  and  the  last  time  of  my  going 
this  season.  Remembering  the  times  of  Pitt  and  Fox,  it  is 
impossible  now  to  listen  to  the  debates  with  any  degree  of 
patience. 

Temple,  February  5, 1807. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  am  at  a  loas  to  imagine  what 
reason  I  gave  you  to  suppose  I  was  in  such  very  bad  spirits,  and 
my  affaire  so  very  d&spcrate.  I  go  on  as  well  as  I  had  any  cei'- 
tain  ground  to  expect.  .  .  . 

You  jvsk  if  I  have  opened  my  mouth.  Undoubtedly!  I 
moved  the  worehipful  justices  of  Surrey  to  assign  the  effects  of 
an  insolvent  debtor  to  one  of  his  creditors,  and  fully  succeeded ! 
On  Saturdav  la^t  I  hold  a  brief  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 


200 


1,1 1'K  OF   LOUD  CAMFBEU.. 


[1807. 


indorsed  '  ^Ir.  Campbell,  two  giias.  With  you  Mr.  Serj'  Shop- 
herd.'  In  short  it  would  be  quite  cjudlertH  were  I  to  iuiorm  you 
of  all  the  pleadings  I  have  drawn,  all  the  cases  I  have  answered, 
and  all  the  motions  I  have  made  in  eourt.  I  told  you  I  am  n;- 
taincd  in  an  important  and  difKenlt  eause  coming  on  for  trial  at 
the  sittings  after  this  term.  I  can't  have  less  with  my  brief  than 
seven  guinejis.  The  action  in  the  Common  Pleas  di<l  not  come 
on  last  Saturday,  but  will  Saturday  next.  It  is  on  two  bills  of 
exchange,  and  I  shall  merely  have  to  examine  a  witness  or  two 
as  to  the  defendant's  handwriting,  «fcc.  My  court  is  the  King's 
Bench.  This  I  attend  regularly  day  by  day,  going  into  othere 
only  on  special  occasions.  It  is  the  ploasantest  lounge  in  the 
world.  I  am  very  well  acquaint^fd  with  the  young  barristers, 
and  am  on  a  very  desimble  footing  with  them.  Here  we  assem- 
ble and  talk  over  the  news  and  scandal  of  the  day.  When  these 
topics  fail  us  we  criticize  the  leaders,  quiz  the  judges,  and  abuse 
the  profession.  We  again  meet  at  dinner  in  the  hall,  and  upon 
the  whole  we  lead  very  merry  lives.  I  shall  by  and  by  have  an 
opportunity  of  contemplating  th»  l)eauties  of  nature.  The  cir- 
cuit begins  about  the  middle  of  next  month.  I  have  resolved 
to  go  the  Home,  including  Hertfordshire,  Easex,  Kent,  Sussex 
and  Surrey.  It  is  the  least  expensive — the  only,  point  I  had  to 
consider  in  choosing  my  circuit,  as  my  connections  are  equally 
powerful  in  all  the  six.  Thus,  my  dear  father,  have  1  attempted 
to  let  you  fully  and  fairly  into  all  n»y  concerns.  You  see  I  have 
got  a  little  sprinkling  of  business,  and,  what  is  of  much  more 
importance,  I  have  to  iv  certain  degree  established  my  character 
among  my  brother  barristers  as  a  lawyer  and  a  gentleman.  1  a 
short,  I  do  not  at  all  despair  of  being  pointed  out  at  fifty  as  'a 
promising  young  man.'  Good  or  bad  success  can  produce  no 
abatement  in  the  fervency  of  affection  Avith  which  I  subscribe 
myself,  my  dear  father  and  sisters,  ever  yowl's,  J.  C. 

Tomple,  Sunday,  March  1, 1807. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  have  had  the  honor  to  breakfast  with 
Lord  Leven,  and  to  set  mv  foot  within  the  threshold  of  Lord 


[1807. 


1807.] 


CAU*  ON   I/)RD   BUADAI-BAXE. 


201 


Brcodulbano.  I  received  your  letter  of  the  17th  ult.  on  Satur- 
day the  2lHt  with  a  note  from  Lord  Leven,  saying  that  his  lord- 
fihip  would  be  glad  to  see  me  any  morning  to  hrcakfast  at  No.  6 
Bury  Street,  St.  James's.  I  went  on  the  Monday  and  f<iund  him 
abundantly  civil.  He  walke<l  down  with  me  to  Wistminstcr 
Hall,  whore  he  left  me,  having  first  ofl'orcd  u\v  a  frank  fcir  you, 
and  said  he  should  he  happy  to  see  me  in  Bury  Street. 

Of  my  Lord  Breadalbane  I  have  as  yet  little  to  tell  you.  He 
uow  occupies  a  princely  mansion  in  Park  Lane  looking  into  Hyde 
Park.  Hither  I  repaired  on  Wednewlay,  our  fast  day.  I  wished 
to  deliver  your  letter  into  his  own  hand,  and  therefore  called  be- 
tween twelve  and  one.  His  hall  was  croM'dod  with  yellow-chul 
varlets,  who  told  me  his  lordship  was  just  gone  out.  Of  course 
I  ga\e  them  the  letter  with  my  card  and  came  away.  The  onus 
thus  rests  with  Lord  Breadalbane.  As  yet  I  have  hoard  nothing 
from  him.  According  to  the  received  rules  of  good  breeding, 
to  which  in  this  (jountry  the  highest  acknowledge  themselves  sub- 
ject, he  ought  to  have  called  upon  me  in  the  coiu'seof  the  week. 
I  shall  regret  if  he  takes  no  notice  of  me  because  this  will  mor- 
tify you.  On  my  own  account  merely,  I  feel  almost  completely 
indifferent  whether  he  does  or  does  not. 

I  thought  I  should  have  had  to  give  you  an  agreeable  a(!count 
<»f  the  fees  and  fame  I  had  obtained  in  the  cause  of  Hoddinott 
v.  Cox  which  I  have  before  alluded  to;  but,  alas!  after  I  had 
spent  weeks  in  making  myself  master  of  it  in  all  its  bearings, 
the  Court  of  King's  Bench  (solely  to  plague  mv)  has  thcmght  fit 
to  change  the  trial  of  it  from  Ijf)ndon  to  Somersetshire.  To  make 
amends  for  this  I  have  a  prospect  of  being  retained  in  a  writ  of 
right  to  be  tried  at  Hertford,  but  after  what  has  happened  I  shall 
not  consider  myself  at  sill  secure  till  tlie  brief  is  delivered  to  me 
and  the  fee  is  in  my  pocket.  The  Home  Circuit  begins  on  Thurs- 
day. I  am  still  uncertain  to  what  places  I  shall  go,  with  whom 
and  in  what  manner  I  shall  travel.  I  may  veiy  likely  write  you 
a  few  lines  from  Chelmsford  or  Maidstone.  To-morrow  I  attend 
the  adjourned  sessions  for  the  county  of  Surrey.  You  see  what 
a  varied  and  pleasant  life  I  lead.     T  am  becoming  a  fasliionable 


pi 

jv-v  i 

g^^  : 

202 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1807. 


man  too.  I  yestertlny  received  the  following  note:  *Mra.  Wat- 
son requoHtH  the  favor  of  Mr.  Cumpbcll'H  conii)any  on  Thin-Hday 
evening  next,  Mun.-h  5th.  Queen  S<|uare,  Friday  morning.' 
Now  does  it  not  supixwe  a  considerable  Hlmre  of  information  in 
mattcrn  of  fon  to  know  of  what  nature  t\m  entertainment  Avill 
be,  of  wliat  sort  of  people  it  will  consist,  and  at  what  liour  it 
will  begin  ?  Tho  goldcn-hairctl  Cecilia  will  be  mistress  of  the 
revels.  .Slie  is  an  only  child,  and  has  a  fortune  independent  of 
her  father.  But  I  have  several  expedients  still  to  try  before  T 
am  driven  to  matrimony. 

[The  Autobiography  gives  the  following  account  of  the  Home 
circuit,  which  he  joined  shortly  after  writing  the  foregoing 
letter. — Ed.]: 


...  I  was  very  cordially  received,  exciting  jealously  in  no 
one,  and  I  had  a  very  merry  time  of  it. 

Fielding,  the  son  of  the  author  of  'Tom  Jonas,'  was  the 
delight  of  'us  youth.'  He  had  lost  the  use  of  one  arm  from 
paralysis,  but  his  intellect  was  unimpaired,  and  he  was  the 
most  festive  of  mankind.  He  had  many  humorous  songs,  some 
of  which  would  not  be  permitted  at  a  cir(;uit  table  in  the  present 
day,  and  he  was  full  of  anecdotes  of  his  father  and  the  literary 
men  of  the  bygone  generation.  Having  little  or  no  business,  he 
was  delighted  to  haw /reHlmien  for  listeners  to  stories  that  he  had 
probably  repeated  till  our  senioi-s  knew  them  too  well. 

Xcxt  to  him  in  point  of  humor  was  William  BoUand,  after- 
wards a  Baron  of  the  Exchequer.  I  recollect,  while  we  were 
at  Chelmsford  on  this  occasion,  there  was  a  great  complaint  of 
the  wine,  which  had  been  ordered  by  Arabin,  the  treasurer  of 
the  wine  fund,  from  Carbonell,  a  great  wine  me'vln,,!  in 
London.  BoUand  proposed  that  we  should  sing  a  hynui  in  their 
comlemnation,  and  immediately  improvised  the  following  lines, 
which  we  sang  in  chorus  without  any  feeling  of  malice  or  irrev- 
erence : 


1807.] 


MEMUUUH  OF  THE   HOME  CIRCUIT. 


203 


Since  wo  thiu  are  met  to  dine, 
Tell  ui  who  prepared  the  wine. 
Who  prepared  it  I  will  tell— 
May  they  both  be  d— d  to  h — 1 — 
Arabin  and  Carbonell. 
Arahin  and  Carbonell — Arabin  and  Carbonell. 
May  they  both  be  d— d  to  h—l 
Arabin  and  Carbonell  I 

I  was  tried  for  some  mock  offence,  und  bcmg  found  guilty, 
the  judge,  puttiug  a  doyley  on  \m  head  for  u  bhutk  cap,  sen- 
tenced me  *  to  be  carried  back  to  tlie  place  from  whence  1  mme,' 
which  considering  what  that  was,  the  court  considered  punish- 
ment enough,  and  hoinxl  would  operate  as  an  example  to  all 
Scotsmen.  I  likewise  had  a  compliment  paid  to  me  in  respect  of 
my  country.  Auditors  were  appointed  to  overhaul  the  accounts 
of  the  wine  treasurer  and,  on  the  ground  that  greater  shrewd- 
ness was  to  be  expected  from  Scotsmen  in  detecting  English 
delinquency,  Alexander  Pitcairn,  a  brother  of  Dr.  Pitcoirn,  the 
famous  physician,  and  I  were  selected  for  the  office. 

Garrow  was  easily  the  first  in  business.  This  was  a  most 
extraordinary  man.  He  was  wholly  uneducated,  and  had  never 
read  anything  except  a  brief  and  a  newspaper.  I  have  several 
times  observed  that,  when  sitting  as  judge  to  try  quo  warranto 
cases  in  which  ancient  documents  were  produced,  he  showed 
that  he  was  not  only  ignorant  of  some  of  the  most  notorious 
events  of  English  history,  but  that  he  did  not  by  any  moans 
know  the  succession  of  our  kings.  He  was  equally  ignorant  of 
the  principles  of  jurisprudence,  although  he  could  be  made  to 
apprehend  legal  distinctions,  und  .seem  to  understand  points  of 
law  arising  at  Nisi  Prius.  Yet  such  was  his  natural  acuteness 
and  the  eftect  of  a  most  beautiful  voice  which  no  one  could  hear 
and  not  listen  to  irrespective  of  the  sentiments  it  conveyed,  that, 
when  I  fii-st  attended  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  in  the 
ordinary  run  of  causes  he  was  fully  a  match  for  Erskine,  and  he 
was  actually  running  ahead  of  him.  Erskine  having  left  the 
bar,  Garrow  was  a  much  greater  favorite  than  Law  or  Gibbs  in 
Loudon,  und   had   twice  as   many  s])ecial  retainers.     He  was 


204 


LIKK  OF   I^>ltl>  lAMIMiKM.. 


[1807. 


mutually  made  Attortiey-Gcncrul  from  M>mo  intrigue  at  Carlton 
HoiiMC,  tlie  Prince  Regent  thinking  he  would  be  useful  in  the 
diNputcH  with  the  PrineeHM  of  Wulet).  Dut  he  broke  down  at  lust, 
hiH  promotion  proving  his  ruin.  .  .  . 

HIh  opponent  on  the  Home  Circuit  wom  Herjeant  Shepherd, 
who,  but  for  the  deafneHH  under  which  he  labored,  would  have 
l)een  a  great  judge  uh  well  iw  an  able  advocate.  He  had  not  had 
a  eliuttiiciil  education,  but  he  waisi  u  sound  lawyer,  and  wim  well 
actiuainted  with  English  litemture.  He  succeedetl  Garrow  jw 
Attorney-General,  and  was  oflert^tl  the  offme  of  Chief  Justiw  of 
the  King's  Bench  on  the  death  of  Lord  KllenlM>rough,  which  ho 
conscientiously  dwlincd,  preferring  the  judicial  sinei'ure  of 
Chief  Baron  of  the  Court  of  Ex(!he<iuer  in  S<;otland. 

Next  twme  Serjeant  Best,  now  Lord  Wynford,*  with  attain- 
ments not  much  grwter  than  those  of  Garrow.  He  early  got 
into  the  House  of  Commons,  and  rec'civwl  a  terrible  eastigution 
from  Pitt,  who  in  parliamentary  phrasi;  sjiitl  he  ha<l  shown  *a 
singular  umicquaintance  with  history  and  constitiitiimal  law.* 
However,  there  never  was  a  l)etter  naturcd  ninn,  ni.d  his  friends 
ill  privof«  life  were  much  attached  to  him. 

The  junior  business  was  monopoli/ed  by  Lawes  and  Marryat, 
two  old  weazened  special  pleaders,  who  knew  the  difference 
between  cam  and  Irespnus — and  little  more. 

London,  March  ;J2,  1«07. 

My  dear  Father: — On  returning  home  last  night  from 
Kingston  I  found  upon  my  table  your  letter  of  the  Ifith.  As 
I  leave  town  again  to-morrow  morning  for  Maidstone,  I  can  do 
little  more  at  present  than  inform  you  that  I  am  not  '  pale  and 
feeble,'  but  stout  and  healthy.  .  .  .  T  <lid  not  go  to  Hertford  at 
all,  as  there  is  little  business  there  and  few  attend.  At  Hert- 
ford, however,  I  was  proposcnl  as  a  nu^mlwr  of  the  circuit  by  Mr. 
Serjeant  Shepherd.  I  don't  know  if  I  ever  mentioned]  this  form 
to  you,  although  I  usetl  to  look  forward  to  it  with  considerable 
uneasiness.     Several  have  been  blackballed,  and   I  knew  not 


*  Lord  Wynford  died  in  1845.— Eo. 


1807.] 


HIS  riRST  CIRCUIT. 


20ft 


whttt  I  might  have  to  HufPer  from  prcjudico  or  inali(«.  About 
mvan  in  th«  morning  of  Monday  the  9tli,  I  act  otT  in  a  |H)Ht- 
chuiM)  for  Chclmriford  with  Mr.  Itarnwell,  the  Hon  of  a  litjndon 
mcr(;hunt,<>alk><l  tht;  wumMhiy  with  myself.  A  third  had  prom- 
iHcd  to  join  uh,  hut  made  d<>fauh.  We  hrcakfaNtcil  at  Romford 
and  arriv'tnl  at  Chchurtford  alM>ut  oiie.  After  wv  had  provided 
ourMC'lvcH  with  l<MlgingH  I  ac('ompani(>d  narnwull  to  the  nunnery 
at  New  Kali,  where  lie  ha-s  Home;  rehitiims,  his  family  being 
Catholics.  Here  for  the  fii*Ht  time  1  >»aw  females  'the  HpoiiHeaof 
Ood,*  religious  orders  being  completely  JxiliHhed  in  France  ond 
Flandere,  On  coming  back  to  Chelmsford  we  were  ushered 
into  the  circuit  room.  From  this,  however,  wc  were  soon  desired 
to  withdraw,  as  they  were  to  prcM-eetl  to  the  ballot.  In  a  few 
minutes  we  were  desired  to  return,  having  been  unanimously 
admitted.  Dlimcr  followed.  I  never  sat  down  with  a  more 
jolly  or  more  agreeable  party.  The  society  on  the  Home  circuit, 
I  believe.  Is  jileosantcr  than  on  any  other,  there  being  here 
scarcely  any  jealousies  or  heartburnings,  and  men  biiing  together 
not  too  long  for  their  good  humor  to  be  exhausted. 

Business  began  on  Tuesday  morning  and  lasted  till  Thursday 
evening.  At  Chelmsford,  as  at  other  places  on  the  circuit,  I  had 
as  much  to  do  as  /  could  reasonably  expect.  On  Wednesday  the 
bar  dined  with  the  judges,  and  on  Thursday  I  returnetl  to  town. 
For  a  tJiird  in  our  chaise  Barnwell  and  myself  had  Vitruvius 
Lawes  whom  you  may  freciuently  sec  mentioned  in  the  news- 
papers as  having  'opcixd  the  pleadings.'  Calling  on  Spankic  on 
Friday,  he  kindly  ofU  re  »l  me  his  hoi-se  for  the  rest  of  the  circuit. 
I  accepted  him  with  some  reluctance,  as  he  is  worth  seventy  or 
eighty  guineas  an.!  is  somewhat  unmanageable.  The  next  place 
to  go  to  was  Horsham  in  Sussex,  for  which  Barnwell  and  I  set 
off'  on  Sunday  morning.  We  hsid  a  delightful  ride  to  Dorking, 
where  my  horse  fell  lame.  I  then  wished  I  had  refused  him. 
The  lameness,  however,  was  but  slight,  and  he  carried  me  to 
Horsham.  Here  I  remained  till  Tuesday  at  noon,  when,  finding 
my  horse  no  better,  I  wished  to  get  him  oif  my  hands  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  therefore  made  for  London  iustcad  of  crossing  over 


\r 


204( 


I.U'K  OK    UtItI)  C.'AM.Mir.l.l.. 


[1807. 


to  Kin^Mton  nM  I  nt  flrNt  iiitcnditl.  Next  innriiinK  I  wiut  (iiki>ii 
to  Kington  hy  Uiwi'M  aiiil  PiMiliy.  Ilfrr  I  H|N>iit  my  titmt 
a((i'«><>iil»ly  iiM  iN't'ori' ;  lirtiriri^  iiitfi-t'Htiti^  trials,  «'iitin((  (>"(i>IU>nt 
<liiin(>i'M,  <li'itikiiif(  fa|iitul  oM  \viii<',  aii«l  mixing  in  •■oiivniMition 
with  men  of  tt'ariiin^,  wit  ami  lii'mlin;;.  While  ••tamlin^  in  tho 
Htreet  one  mofiiiii}^  in  a  eirele  nt' ()\oiiianr<,  I  ',vtu«  <lmwn  in  to 
«lo  u  nwh  (hiii)^  lor  whieh  the  event  t'voii  d«»en  not  jiwtif'y  nie. 
TluH  linu  wuH  mentioned— 

which  it  wari  contemled  wan  had  liiitin  an<l  the  pK/luctlon  of 
Home  unknown  monkish  writer.  I  naid  ra-^^hly  1  Miou^ht  I 
rccul]e(!tetl  it  in  Oviil.  A  U't  wax  otleriHl,  and  m  I  eould  not 
get  oil'  with  honor,  I  ntakul  hulf-a-irown  u|Kin  it.  1  wiw  in  u 
confounded  funk,  thinkii.^  that  the  verne  nnght  really  Im!  dog- 
gerel and  that  I  HhouKI  Ih>  ruine<l  on  the  (;ireuit,  whieh  in  that 
caHC  I  uhould  have  Imh'ii,  at  lear«t  with  all  tlie  university  men. 
But  by  go(Nl  luck,  in  the  Hciumd  Intok  (>i  tiie  '  MetumorphoHes,' 
fabula  vi.,  dertcribin^  the  amour  of  Jupiter  and  CaliHto,  you  may 
read  *lfm,  (/uaia  ({l/Hfiff  «•*<(,'  A:e.  This  triumph  pleu»e8  mo 
more  than  u  Hve-guintui  brief. 

I  retnrne<i  from  Kin}{ston  witli  a  Mr.  Anth'eWH,  and  Morrin, 
my  Lord  Krrtkine'w  Hon-in-law.  Thi!  latter,  you  nuiy  MUpposc, 
wan  not  a  little  down  in  the  mouth.*  At  Kingston  the  lawyera 
were  all  expe<!tin<^  kin;;'H  messengers  Nummonin^  them  to  town 
to  1k!  Attorney-  or  Solieitor-Gem^rul.  It  will  be  a  sad  blow  upna 
ErHkine  who,  if  he  goes  out,  will  ^ink  into  in.significunee.  lie 
does  not  form  an  integral  part  of  any  party,  and  has  in  liimHcIf 
neither  parliamentary  talents  nor  inHuenee. 


[The  change  of  Administrntion   is  thus  referred   to  in  the 
Autobiography. — El).] : 


♦Attlio  change  of  Administration  ;  the  King  having  distniPHed  Lord  Qren- 
ville  and  hii  coUeaguoH,  wlio  duliverod  up  t)ie  BoalR  of  thoir  otficen  on  March 
25,  and  were  succeeded  by  the  Duke  of  Portland,  Lord  Eldon,  Mr.  Perceval, 
Ac.— Ed. 


[1807. 

iM  (ukcii 
\y  tiinu 
".••••lU'nt 

j(  in  tl»« 
^n  h)  to 
utify  inc. 


notion  of 
tioUKlit  I 
LituUl  not 
L  wiw  in  II 
ly  Ihj  ilog- 
•h  in  thiit 
rnity  int-n. 
jorphoxit*,' 
,  you  nmy 
)lotuH!H  nio 

1(1  Morris, 
Hupposc, 
111!  Iiiwycw 
lui  to  town 
[blow  u|)')n 
^incc.  He 
ill  himself 


1807.] 


CIIANOK  or   ADMIM^rUMKiN. 


207 


to  m 


the 


Lord  Qren- 
pe»  on  March 
Mr.  Perceval, 


.  .  .  lU'roH'  fho  ciiiuit  fffi  to  SiiK-M'x  I  hitihl  fhnl  the  Hill  to 
nllow  Ciithnlic  oni«'«»rM  to  wrv«'  in  ih<'  iirnty,  liroiijcht  in  liy  IiOr<l 
Oronvillc  un<l  Lonl  Ilowick  iiflrr  thi>  «lMith  of  Fox,  ullhoiigh 
th(>  Kin|{  hiul  mnotioniNl  itH  intr<Nhi<'lioii,  Inul  iMvoinc  H«MliHtti^tt>- 
ful  to  him  and  n|>|H>an'4|  mo  much  in  violiition  of  hiH  coronation 
mith,  that  h<<  whm  (|(>trrniin<><l  not  to  |nuhf4  it,  and  to  diHmiw  Min- 
\nivvH  \vh«>  ha<l  vi'ntunil  to  |>ro|MH(>  ^^U'-h  an  unti-ProtoHtant 
monMun*.  Thr  iH'xt  nost  brought  tho  i\v\vn  of  tht«  Whig««  Mug 
nil  turncil  )>ut,  and  liord  F.ldon  lM>in<;  a^ain  Chanoollor.  Thin 
wiw  a  heavy  Mow  and  ^rt-at  tIi.-<rouran<'m«>nt  to  my  proftwional 
|)n)gr<'f*«,  hut  r  liavo  always  nH-olht'ttd  tins  prwcpt  that  in^tvad 
of  yii^hiit)};  to  misfortunes  we  should  summon  fri>sh  courage  to 
eu<!oiuitor  them.  T  can  truly  say  that  on  this  occuMion  my  pri- 
vate grief  was  lost  in  tny  consternation  ut  w«ing  the  nation  as 
well  as  the  King  s»»  lH'sotte<l.  When  wo  m'n  the  mass  of  the 
population  of  u  foreign  country,  under  li  frenxied  delusion,  not 
<»nly  unjust  to  neighboring  Stntes,  but  nn-kh'ss  of  their  own 
essential  interestN,  and  dis|)osiHl  to  trample  u|H>n  the  rights  of  a 
imrticidar  chjss  of  their  fellow-K-itizj'ns,  we  Knglishmon  should 
fe4>l  only  humiliation  and  symimthy.  I  nuist  admit  that  in  no 
«K>untry  is  public  opinion  apt  to  l)c  more  ahsurdly  wrong  than  in 
enlightened  England.  Within  u  year  after  the  revohition  of 
108S,  if  the  English  nation  had  been  polled,  a  great  majority 
would  have  been  found  lor  sending  back  King  William  to  Hol- 
land. In  the  reign  of  (^ueen  Anne  the  Protestant  mc<'ting- 
house«  Were  burnt  by  th(!  Saeheverell  mobs  with  the  almost 
unanimous  applause;  of  the  nation,  which  the  Court  soon  sanc- 
tioned by  the  pardon  of  the  rioters.  The  fable  of  'Captain 
Jenkins's  eai-s'  made  all  liritain  violent  for  a  war  against  Spain, 
then  strictly  observing  all  her  treaties  with  \is.  However  unpop- 
ular the  Ameri(!an  War  became!  after  tlu;  siuTcnder  of  liurgoyne 
and  Cornwallis,  it  was  highly  relislie<l  at  first  by  the  bulk  of 
the  nation,  and  the  'Uostim  Port  Act,'  and  the  'Non-intercourse* 
JW  well  as  the  *  Stam|)  Act'  were  thought  due  to  English  ascend- 
ancy. \t  all  times  any  concessions  to  the  Irish,  whether  com- 
mercial, political  or  religious,  have  been  disrelished  in  England. 


208 


I.IKK  or   U)ltl>  rAMPIIKI.I.. 


[1807. 


fl<'nrKi»  III.  in  elic  Mpriii^  of  IH07  whh  (||i|iIiiii<I«'<I  I'ni- i  Iiuiij^Ihk 
\m  MiniMtcrM  mi  iIm>  ^riMiiiil  that  tlicv  pro|MM4H|,  \\\\>>u  wi-  w«ti' 
fi){litiii^  iil^ikiiiMt  iNu|M>|iM)ii  lor  our  rxi^frrnv,  thut  an  Kn^liNli 
Hoinan  Ciifltolir  nii|{lit  mtvi*  iim  a  niiijnr  in  (hr  Kn^liOi  army. 
It  uwiAt  \h<  a<ltiii(t<>«l,  liMwcviT,  tlint  tin*  lialliirinatinn  in  ttilH 
inH(an<><'  Wiv*  iiof  Inn^-livnl.  Tin'  nain<'  ini>iU4nrr  waM  al'tfrwanU 
IMi^Ht'tl  liy  I<onI  Iiiv<>r|HMil'M  Uovornnicnt,  and  alnll)^t  iw  (\H'u>t]y 
OH  a  Vt-Mtry  Act. 

T«in|ilo,  .Stunlivy  evcniiiK,  April  ft,  lH07. 

My  dkau  Fa'I'iihii: —  ...  I  wIhIi  to  nt>av(>n  I  could  anuim* 
your  attention  tor  a  tow  dayH  till  th<<  Hhi|m  (roni  India  arrive, 
hut  I  liavu  nothing  to  nu>ntion  to  you  (!Xf4'|>t  my  interview  with 
Lord  lireadalhaiif.'*  On  Monday  laxt  I  received  l)y  the  t\vt>- 
|H!ntiy  |H)Nt  u  note  from  hin  lonlxhip,  Niyin^  that  he  nIiouM  \m 
^lad  to  f*H>  nie  next  day  in  Park  linnu  at  n<M)n.  Aeeordiii^^ly 
lK>tween  twelve  and  oiio  on  Tuemlay  1  wuh  UHhered  into  Iuh 
lonJHhip'rt  library.  In  u  few  niinutiw  he  entere<l,  hIiooU  niu  hy 
the  hand,  and  treated  tnu  very  eourttiouHly.  lJ|K>n  my  houI  hi* 
fk'emetl  nnieh  more  fri>;htene4l  than  I  waM.  It  in  to  be  Hiiru  (|uitv 
awtonibhin^  that  a  man  of  U'm  rank — ii  VVeHtmiuMter  boy — and 
wlio  has  Hinet!  n)ixe«l  ho  mucit  with  the  world,  Hhould  in  IiIm 
manner  be  ho  nhy  and  awkward  IIu  Htiid  that  i'rom  lon^  utul 
Hineeru  re;{at'd  for  my  father  he  hIiouUI  bo  very  happy  to  asHJHt 
mo,  that  he  had  very  little  in  hin  power,  but  that  I  mi^ht  rely 
upon  him  for  whatever  he  eould  do  toa<lvance  me  in  my  profoH- 
Hion,  and  he  bey:^ed  I  would  let  him  know  when  I  thought  he 
eould  Hcrvc  me.  1  bowed,  naid  I  nhould  not  fail  to  avail  niywlf 
of  luH  obli}>;in^  oiler,  bade  him  ^(hkI  morning,  and  made  olV.  I 
believe  my  intereourne  with  him  Ih'^ui  and  ended  in  the  same 
virtit,  but  I  am  exceedingly  happy  that  he  went  for  me,  iw  you 
would  have  Ik-'cu  mortified  had  he  altoj^ether  nej^lected  me,  and 
I  truly  <le<!lare  that  he  received  me  with  the  utmost  |)o.sail)le 
civility,  and  in  a  manner  that  ought  to  be  the  most  soothing  to 
your  feelings.    While  we  were  sitting  together  a  stout  rawboned 


*  John,  fourtli  Enrl  imd  first  Marc^uess  of  Breadalbane. — Ed. 


im)7.J 


IMMAIM'OlNTMKNr  o»-    Snt  M'l'.AKINO. 


2<)0 


^uiith  oame  in,  whom  ho  mU(>«l  '(}|«>ii/  iiml  intriMliioiMl  to  iiiu  wi 
hiH  mm.  Th«  liul  iit  at  a  iM*h(Nit  ut  Vav^I  Hh«>«<n,  ami  vnw  at  hotmt 
loi*  thu  holuhiyn.  IIin  Htimly  u|i|N>iiniiMi<  riiiiitt  thtiiw  u  gnitt 
«lain|i  ii|M)ii  tho  ho|ioN  of  <M«iirull«N'h.  I  liktHiw'  mw  my  lonVn 
AiUt*t  ihiiightiT,  who  In  jiiHt  on  thi!  v«'i'i;i)  of  woiiiaiih<MNl,  »ii<l 
|»n)iiii'««'M  to  In>  ('Xtroiiicly  lN>aiitit'iil.  I  U'liivc  I  uiii  iiitli'littHl  to 
Miy  iViciid  I<<'V(>ii  fur  lin«liti^  my  iiolilc  cniiHiii  pr«>|MiMH'KK'«l  in 
riiy  favor.  II<>  miu)I  hi*  »h<>iil<|  havi*  m-cn  nit>  MtMini-r,  litit  he  hiul 
Itiirmil  iVoiii  (iOhl  licvcn,  who  huil  fVii|ii*'ntly  mcntiitiMil  me  to 
him,  that  i  wim  out  of  (own  upon  the  to- ait.  Whin  LonI 
Ilri'aihillNUii'  iH  at  thi'  hi>ail  of  tho  Trt'tumry  I  nhall  ift-tainly  Ih? 
Attorniy-Ciiniral ;  ami,  wriounly,  if  thi<  lat«  MiniMtorH  ovit  get 
in  nij^uin,  I  (thall  apply  through  him  tu  bv  ap|H)iuttid  vuuum)!  tu  the 
Orduaucu  or  thu  Adniirulty. 

T«mi>l«,  May  1, 1*07. 

My  DRAit  Fathkr  : —  ...  When  I  wrote  lu>tt  I  wiw  pn>|Mir- 
iiig  to  make  u  HiMHM'h  ut  the  Ixir  of  (he  llou^e  of  (.'onimons  ufion 
tJie  Caliii)  I'rintcrH*  Hill.  Two  eveningM  I  went  down  in  the 
ex|ieetation  of  having  the  honor  to  uddri'NN  Mr.  H|M>aker,  but 
the  fii'ht  time  the  onler  for  the  Hei-oiiil  reading  of  the  hill  wiui 
mljonrneil,  and  the  Heeond  time  the;  Hill  was  thntwn  out  without 
coutiHel  being  heard  upon  it  ut  all.  During  the  debute  I  Htoixd 
ut  the  bur  in  my  rofit^'-'t  along  with  Alexander  and  llurriwui,  my 
up|N)ncntM,  and  had  jroX  over  my  trepidation  ho  fur  that  I  was  a 
giKKl  deal  disjippointc**'  ut  iM'ing  turntil  away  unheard.  There 
would  have  Ikjcu  h(nn«  '"^IfU  in  making  a  tolerable  Hpeceh  at  tlio 
Ijur  of  the  IIou.se  of  Cftu'iiotw,  and  a  reporter  was  employed  to 
take  my  Hpeeeh  for  the  pur[w)N<>  of  publishing  it  in  u  pamphlet. 
However,  it  is  perhaps  as  well  otherwise.  I  might  have  failed, 
and  on  my  side  of  the  question  I  eould  oidy  have  had  ret;ourHc 
to  sophistry  and  declamation.  Fee,  thirty  guineaHl  1  have  not 
yot  reeeiveil  it,  but  believe  it  is  wife.  Alexander,  whom  I  hud 
not  spoken  with  for  some  years,  iK'haved  to  me  with  very  great 
kindness,  and  prcssetl  me  most  earnestly  to  visit  him. 

VOL  I.  0* 


210 


LIFK  OF   I/)IID  CAMPBKM.. 


[1807. 


I;'' 


Tonii)lo,  May  1».  1807. 

My  ukak  Brother: —  .  .  .  Since  my  retiiiner  Ixjibre  the 
House  of  Conmious  luy  luck  has  been  small.  For  that  job  I 
got  twenty-five  guintus,  no  bad  oompcuLsatlon  tor  my  trouble.  I 
was  in  hopes  of  cutting  in  for  something  during  the  general  elec- 
tion, but  the  man  on  whom  I  principally  relied  was  called  out  of 
town  uj)on  the  dissolution  and  is  only  just  retm-ned.  There  arc 
likely  to  be  few  petitions,  and  my  chance  of  businesw  Ixifore  the 
committees  would  scarcely  be  augmentcil  by  any  increase  of  their 
numbers.  There  is  only  one  aitonwy  whom  I  n\w  at  all  look  upon 
as  a  client.  If  I  had  a  little  business  I  think  I  could  improve 
it  by  my  exertions ;  but  having  scarcely  any,  I  am  left  to  the 
discouraging  reflection  that  I  can  do  nothing  to  push  myself  for- 
ward, and  that  all  my  pa.st  lalM)i*s  are  quite  unavailing.  Yet  1 
know  that  several  sensible  men  augur  well  concerning  me,  and 
some  favorable  accident  may  make  me  known  when  J  Icjist  expect 
it.  I  know  not  whether  it  is  worth  while  to  mention  to  you  that 
1  last  term  drew  some  pleadings  and  wrote  an  opinion  or  two  for 
a  man  of  considerable  eminence  at  the  bar  of  the  name  of  Marr- 
yat.  Very  likely  this  kind  of  connection  will  proceed  between 
us  no  further  or,  if  it  does,  will  lead  to  nothing.  Marryat  is  of 
the  Home  circuit  and  Surrey  sessions  with  myself,  and  might  be 
of  very  great  service  to  me.  I  conceive  it  quite  doubtful  whether 
he  will  ever  send  me  anything  more  to  do,  but  by  way  of  fee  for 
what  I  have  l)efore  done  I  am  to  have  a  third  dinner  from  him 
at  his  house  in  Russell  Square. 

My  labors  with  *  The  Law  of  Partnership '  are  almost  brought 
to  a  (!onclusion.  I  have  now  only  to  write  an  introduction  to  the 
book  and  I  am  entitled  to  my  £75 — this  payable,  however,  thrw 
months  after  publication.  I  liav(!  had  to  go  through  some  horrid 
drudgery,  but  without  the  job  my  time  would  not  have  been  either 
so  pletisantly  or  so  profitably  (_.;''^uj)icd.  Mr.  Watson  protests 
himself  to  be  under  infinite  obligations  to  me,  and  if  he  could  do 
anything  to  advance  me  he  would. 

...  I  look  with  (ionfidence  to  the  circle  of  my  relations  being 
most  agreeably  increased  by  a  sister-in-law  from  you.    I  love  her 


1807.] 


KXPEN8E  OP   LIVING   IN    J.OSDON. 


211 


by  anticipation.  jNIy  iniugination  can  present  to  tnc  no  wcue  which 
would  yicM  nio  such  delight  as  you  living  with  a  woman  worthy 
of  you  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  family  of  children.  If  I  could  reach 
independence  at  thirty-five  or  forty  I  Hhould  not  dislike  making 
an  experiment  this  way  myself.  But  you  nmst  undei-stand  what 
is  indciMUidence  for  a  barrister,  lie  cannot  sujiport  a  family 
decently  in  his  station  of  life  under  £1500  a  year.  Now  you  may 
judge  how  likely  it  is  I  should  have  so  much  to  spend  within  the 
next  ten  years  I  ...  I  am  sometimes  forcibly  struck  with  the 
dilTorence  which  the  accident  of  my  coming  to  London  haa  made 
in  my  notions,  in  my  habits,  in  my  occupations  and  in  all  that 
constiiUtcs  life.  There  is  a  consideration  that  sometimes  gives 
me  pain :  I  seem  to  have  deserted  my  family;  my  loss  may  excite 
deep  regret  in  iny  father,  and  his  days  may  not  be  so  happy  as  if 
1  had  been  always  near  him  to  wait  upon  his  pleasure.  I  really 
do  beg  your  sincere  and  candid  sentiments  ui)on  this  subject,  which 
is  of  more  consequence  to  my  peace  of  mind  than  you  will  readily 
conceive.  You  will  very  likely  ttill  me  to  do  what  I  can  to  repair 
the  mischief  by  going  down  two  or  three  months  to  Scotland  eveiy 
year ;  but  if  you  were  perfectly  acquainted  with  my  situation,  you 
would  perceive  that  this  is  wholly  impossible  without  frustrating 
all  my  plans  both  for  them  and  for  myself.  Notwithstanding  thi; 
pressing  solicitations  I  have  received,  it  will  not  be  in  my  power 
to  visit  S(!otland  this  summer  at  all,  and  I  think  I  could  convince 
you  I  am  jiot  to  be  blamed,  if  I  had  not  already  talked  a  vast 
deal  too  much  for  one  time  about  myself  and  my  paltry  concerns. 
...  I  borrowed  £100  from  John  Gray  to  discharge  the 
expenses  of  my  call.  He  expects  this  to  be  repaid,  although  he 
fp.yg  tliere  Is  no  hurry  about  it,  and  it  will  be  as  well  for  us  to  get 
out  of  his  (l(.'bt.  The  sessions,  the  circuit  and  quarter-day  are  all 
approaching,  but  with  your  help  I  am  not  at  all  afraid  to  face 
them.  Tancred,  my  most  intimate  friend  here,  has  been  lament- 
ing to  me  to-day  that  he  finds  his  means  quite  inadequate  to  the 
expense  of  circuits,  sessions,  tfec,  as  he  has  barely  £400  a  year ! 
Great  as  our  intimacy  is,  he  does  not  know  that  I  have  not  four 
farthings  a  year  except  from  you,  although  he  is  well  acquainted 


212 


lilFK  or  J, OKI)  CAMrUKLL. 


[1807. 


with  the  afTcction  that  sulwiwtH  between  us  and  the  kindness  I 
experience  IVoni  you.    Heaven  preserve  you,  my  dear  George. 

Temple,  Juno  30,1807. 
My  dear  Father  : —  ...  My  life  is  rather  l)arren  of  inci- 
dents— the  horae  in  the  mill.  Immediately  after  breakfast  I  go 
down  to  the  courts,  and  remain  there  till  near  dinner-time.  In 
the  evening  I  sit  at  home  rcjidiiig  and  vainly  watcliing  for  an 
attorney's  knocik.  Immodialcly  upon  the  publication  of  'The 
I^aw  of  Partnership '  1  nveived  my  £lb,  so  that  I  am  now  in 
full  feather  and  ready  lor  tlu;  rinuiit.  My  professional  eiu-nings 
continue  nuich  upon  the  same  stwlc — now  and  then  half  a  guinea 
for  signing  my  name,  or  a  guinea  brief  in  an  undefended  cause. 
When  I  meet  Tidd  he  gives  nu>  a  most  affectionate  squeeze  of  the 
hand,  and  with  that  I  must  be  contented.  The  midsummer 
sessions  are  held  at  Guildford  on  the  14th  of  next  month,  and 
the  Home  circuit  begins  on  thy  20th.  How  happy  sliould  I  be 
to  fly  to  the  North  when  that  is  over. 


Me  si  fata  meis  paterentiir  ducne  vitam 
Au8}ticii$  el  tponte  mcd  comjionere  curai. 

But  if  not  fate,  prudence  and  propriety  oppose  my  so  doing.  It 
is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  all  the  courts  of  justice  are  shut  up, 
and  that  all  business  ceases  during  the  long  vacation.  We  shall 
have  adjourned  sessions  at  Guildford  in  September,  and  the  Old 
Bailey  will  sit  immediately  after.  From  the  way  in  which 
Easter  fell  this  season  (according  to  which  you  know  the  terms 
are  regulated)  there  will  not  be  the  usual  interval  between  the 
meetings  of  the  different  courts,  and  few  men  belonging  to  the 
Home  circuit  and  Surrey  sessions  will  be  from  town  above  a 
fortnight  or  three  weeks  at  a  time.  Now  you  are  aware  that  to 
have  any  chance  of  success  I  must  be  more  steady  than  other 
men ;  I  must  be  in  chambers  when  they  are  at  the  theatre :  I 
must  study  when  they  are  asleep ;  I  must,  above  all,  remain  in 
town  when  they  are  in  the  country.     I  shall  hope  to  have  a  visit 


18U7.] 


KlllST    KAItNINOH    AT  TIIK    BAH. 


213 


from  you  next  upriiig  in  London ;  iind  tilings  will  so  happen,  I 
trust,  that  I  may  be  your  guodt  th(!  following  autumn. 

Temple,  June  30, 1807. 

My  dear  Brotiieu: —  .  .  .  You  shall  know  the  exact 
amount  of  my  earnings  since  I  was  callt'l  to  the  bar — forty-one 
and  a  half  guineas !  I  ought  to  add  that  of  those  called  this 
year  (perhaps  forty)  I  Ix'lieve  no  one  except  young  Adam  (who 
through  his  father's  interest  was  employed  in  two  election  com- 
mittees) has  made  more,  and  that  few  hav(>  made  nearly  so  much. 
My  chagrin  arisen  from  my  extraordinary  exertions  to  qualify 
myself  yielding  nie  no  sort  of  a<lvantage,  for  I  might  have  made 
every  farthing  as  much  without  knowing  the  difference  between 
trenpasH  and  cane.  To  Ixi  sure  my  vanity  is  sometimes  a  little 
tickled  by  being  consulted  by  the  young  barristers,  and  being 
ref(!rred  to  as  an  arbiter  in  their  disputes.  I  am  afraid  to  touch 
upon  these  topics  lest  I  revive  or  confirm  your  old  opinion  of  my 
conceitedni'm  s  but  I  should  Ix^  the  stupi<lest  of  mankind  if,  from 
the  aj)plication  I  hav(;  given,  I  did  not  know  more  law  than 
most  young  men  called  io  the  bar,  and  in  letting  you  fairly  into 
my  situation  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  state  what  is  encouraging 
as  well  as  >vliat  is  dishcjirtoning.  I  might  at  any  time  have  a 
lucrative  engagement  to  report  law  for  a  newspaper.  But  I  will 
never  accept  such  a  thing  while  T  ran  enlist  in  the  60th  Regi- 
ment. 

T  have  as  yet  had  few  opportunities  of  becoming  acquainted 
with  the  great  men  in  the  law.  Marryat  I  think  I  have  men- 
tioned to  you.  I  still  continue  occasionally  to  answer  cases  for 
him,  but  my  hopes  of  being  j)atronized  by  him  are  not  in  the 
slighest  degree  raised,  fn  the  King's  Bench  I  have  not  opened 
my  mouth  either  for  myself  or  others.  In  the  Common  Pleas  I 
have  been  in  one  or  two  little  'causes  myself,  and  I  have  held 
several  briefs  for  other  men.  The  most  I  ever  had  to  do  was  to 
examine  witnesses,  but  it  is  desirable  to  be  broke  in  to  do  this, 
particularly  as  in  the  meantime  one  becomes  acquainted  with  the 
leading  counsel  in  the  court.     T  know  Serjeant  Shepherd  and 


214 


LIF£  OF  LOUD  CAMPUKLL. 


[1 807. 


Serjeant  Best,  the  two  chief  men  in  the  Connuou  Pleiw,  to  Hpcak 
to  fumiliurly.  Being  in  the  Hjinie  eaur<o  with  the  hitter  a  lew 
divya  ago,  I  privately  argued  n  point  of  hiw  with  him  very  keenly, 
and  at  hist  eonvineed  him  1  wiis  riglit.  Taiving  thin  altogether, 
it  is  surely  better  than  staying  another  yeiu*  with  Tidd  at  a  j£200 
fee,  us  you  know  he  oifertnl,  or  remaining  a  siHieial  pleader  under 
the  bar. 

Teraplo.August  12.  1807. 

My  deau  Brother: — A  packet  for  Bengal  is  to  be  mofleup 
this  morning.  I  therefore  sit  down  to  inform  you  of  my  return 
to  town  after  the  circuit.  1  have  8i)ent  three  or  four  weeks  very 
agreeably.  This  han  been  a  better  circuit  for  me  than  the  last 
by  exactly  £16.*  I  should  l)e  in  some  slight  degree  discouraged 
by  this  total  want  of  business  were  it  not  that  tliere  were  only 
two  of  this  year's  barristers  who  had  anything,  that  they  had 
only  one  brief  apiece,  and  that  of  these  one  was  the  son  of  Mr. 
(iarrow,  and  the  other  had  been  a  pleader  uiuler  the  bar  for  a 
great  many  years.  I  may  likewise  console  myself  by  reHecting 
that  I  have  been  much  better  received  on  the  circuit  by  rousing 
the  jealousies  and  apprehensions  of  no  one.  liesidcs,  I  shal  1  relish 
business  more  from  having  known  the  want  of  it,  and  I  shall  do 
it  better  from  being  in  some  mesisure  experienced  befoj'e  it  comes : 
BO  that  upon  the  whole  it  seems  very  husky  that  the  attorneys  have 
not  yet  discovered  my  extraordinary  merit,  and  that  I  have  gone 
a  second  circuit  without  a  brief.  By-and-by  1  may  have  to  tell 
you  of  having  conducted  a  cnm.  con.  ciause  at  such  a  place,  and 
prosecuted  a  man  for  murder  at  such  another  [>lace.  At  present, 
were  I  to  enter  into  details,  1  could  only  mention  the  time  of  ray 
entering  and  leaving  the  assize  town.  I  went  all  round  in  a  post- 
chaise  with  two  other  barristers.  No  public  vehicle  being  per- 
mitted, this  is  by  far  the  cheapest  mode  of  travelling.  Upon  an 
average  the  expense  may  be  taken  at  five  guineas  a  county.  I 
was  in  four :  Essex,  Kent,  Sussex,  Surrey — twenty  guineas.  This 
is  a  mere  trifle  compared  to  the  other  circuits.     The  Western  can- 


*  See  letter.  January  6, 1809,  (p.  2;i9). 


1807.] 


SECOND  CIRCUIT. 


216 


not  Im>  taken  at  Icsh  than  .£150  a  yiuir.  Hut  for  this  reason  ours 
ia  more  ov('rHtof'l<('<l  tlian  any  other.  All  married  men  too  are 
urged  to  go  to  the  Home  by  their  wivt«,  iia  we  are  seldom  more 
than  four  or  five  days  out  ut  a  time.  There  are  about  seventy 
considered  as  l)elonging  to  the  circuit,  but  wo  seldom  muster 
above  fifty.  There  mv  a  gnnit  many  who  never  go  into  Sussex. 
I  went,  however,  having  us  many  clients  there  as  elsewhere. 
Lewes,  where  the  ii'wizes  arc  held  in  the  summer,  is  a  very  pleas- 
ant place  ;  and  a  Sunday  intervening  whih;  we  were  here,  I  went 
over  to  Brighton  an<l  laved  my  limbs  in  the  ocean.  My  fellow- 
circuiteers,  I  believe,  look  upon  me  us  a  fellow  fond  of  pleasure 
and  careless  of  money.  We  finished  at  Croydon,  where  we  had 
a  gnmd  fttc;  from  fines  imposed  upon  Gari'ow,  Best,  «fec.,  for  going 
to  other  circuits  on  special  retainers.  Between  eleven  and  twelve 
at  night  I  gained  great  applause  by  reciting  a  passage  of  Ossian 
in  the  original  Gaelic.  One  or  two  Cockneys,  I  believe,  were 
convinced  that  the  gibberish  I  uttered  WJis  sensible  and  connected 
language.  I  returned  to  town  on  Saturday,  the  business  Ixiing  all 
finished  except  two  or  three  things  which  stood  over  to  Monday. 
Since  then,  however,  I  have  been  out  of  town  and  gained 
immortal  honor.  Adjourned  Suri-cy  sessions  hud  l)ecn  fixed  at 
Guildford  for  Monday  the  10th,  but  Judge  Heath  and  the  prin- 
cipal lawyere  at  Croydon  liad  given  it  as  their  opinion  that  they 
could  not  legally  be  held  as  the  assizes  continued,  and  the  sessions 
men  resolved  not  to  attend.  Upon  looking  into  the  books  I  was 
convinced  this  opinion  was  erroneous,  and  as  I  had  been  invited 
to  dine  with  Serjejint  Onslow  nejir  Guildford  no  Sunday,  I  hired 
a  horse  and  set  ort  early  in  the  morning.  On  the  way  I  met  one 
of  the  officci's  of  the  court,  who  told  me  the  sessions  were  to  be 
put  off  till  Wednesday.  I  pushed  forward  to  Onslow's.  I  shook 
his  opinion  and  made  him  give  me  a  letter  to  Lord  Middleton, 
the  chairman,  saying  that  at  any  i-ate  if  the  sessions  could  not  be 
held  for  the  despatch  of  business,  they  could  not  be  adjourned. 
Early  next  morning  I  went  to  Lord  Middleton's  seat  beyond 
Godalming,*  where  the  clerk  of  the  peace  then  was.     His  lord- 

*Peper  Flarow. 


Wi 

1 

r-P 

Hi    I.,   '-'  i 

■( 

1  *'''^  1 

\ 

li^i 

! 

21G 


I-IFE  OF   LOUD   <'AM1»I»KI.L. 


[1807. 


':' 


'>!i 


l^l 


ship  receivKl  me  with  grcut  |H>lit<3iR<8H,  un<l  intnxIuccKl  mo  to 
Liuly  Middlcton.  While  breakfiist  was  going  forward  I  brought 
him  uml  tlie  clerk  of  the  jmjju'c  over  to  my  way  of  thinking,  and, 
after  Win  UtrdHhip  \\iv\  nhown  m(>  hJH  grounds  and  his  paintingn, 
we  all  prcM-eedt'd  to  Guildford  U  gt-thcr.  When  the  court  rom  I 
waa  tucked  l)y  Mr.  Sumner,  mcndM>r  for  the  county,  to  go  lioinc 
and  dinewitli  him.  TiOrd  Middleton'is  in  thi;  habit  of  giving  a 
dinner  on  this  (Ntusiou  at  the  inn,  and  in  the;  end  of  last  week 
had  actually  kilknl  a  buck  for  U8,  but,  on  the  notion  of  holding 
the  HcssiouH  on  the  Weilnewlay,  lie  had  put  the  vijni.son  into  char- 
coal an<l  could  not  get  it  ready.  Mr.  Sumner  left  uh  little  caufse 
of  regn^t,  for  though  it  was  only  pof  luck,  in  thn'c  courHcw  we 
had  every  delicacy  of  the  season.  At  eight  o'chnk  I  was  obliged 
to  t<!ar  myself  away  to  put  on  my  bootn  antl  m(mnt  my  horse. 
I  was  twenty-seven  miles  from  TAUidon,  and  by  ]t)sing  my  way 
I  travelled  five  or  six  more.  However,  I  Inwl  tinish<xl  my 
journey  Ixjfore  St.  Paul's  struck  tw(!lve.  Upon  the  whole  a 
very  pUiasant  excursion  !  Yesterday  1  had  a  gocnl  laugh  at  my 
friends,  who  had  talked  of  the  commissi<m  of  the  peace  under 
which  the  sessions  are  held  being  absorbed  and  suspended  by  the 
commission  of  oyer  and  terminer  under  which  the  judges  were 
Bitting  at  Croydon. 

Templo,  October  1, 1H07. 

My  ukau  Bkotheu  : —  ...  The  bar/en  honor  of  barrister 
can  no  longer  satisfy  me.  What  else  awaits  me  is  yet  quite 
uncertain.  I  know  not  that  the  season  about  to  conuneu'^ie  ia 
likely  to  be  more  favorable  to  me  than  the  last.  I  still  do  and 
shall  persevere  in  exerting  myself  to  the  utmost  to  become 
(!apable  of  business,  in  the  hope  that  it  may  come  to  me.  Dur- 
ing the  vacation  I  hav(»  not  been  out  of  town  a  single  day.  My 
time,  however,  luus  passed  off'  not  disagreeably.  I  have  had.  full 
leisure  to  indulge  my  taste  for  miscellaneous  reading,  and  I  have, 
at  least,  kept  up  my  stock  of  legal  knowledge.  Writing  one 
opinion  and  signing  two  motions  is  all  the  practice  I  have  had 
ou  my  own  account,  but  still  I  have  drawn  a  good  deal  for  Tidd, 
and  answered  a  considerable  number  of  cases  for  Marryat.  .  .  . 


[1807. 


1807.] 


I>ESPONI)8  A8  TO  HUCCF^W. 


217 


Temple,  October  20.  1807. 

My  DEAii  Bkotiier  : —  ...  I  huvo  not  toufhc<l  u  foe  these 
six  wcclvH.  A  Imlf-guinca  about  the  begiiiniiig  of  Soptoinlxir 
brought  nie  up  to  fifty,  untl  there  I  um  likely  to  stick.  1  have 
no  luck — or,  to  H|K'ak  the  truth,  I  have  no  tuleiits  for  this  pro- 
fession. But  I  tun  in  low  spirits  just  now,  und  would  not  huve 
you  mind  whut  I  say.  If  a  brief  or  two  were  to  cioine  in,  1 
should  perhaps  suddenly  change  my  opinion  botli  of  myself  and 
of  my  pros|)ects.  To  be  sure,  at  present,  the  one  and  the  other 
appear  to  me  in  a  vtny  bad  light.  I  begin  to  be  a  little  dejected 
and  u  little  broken-hearted.  .  .  . 

I  continue  to  answer  many  cases  for  Marryat.  When  I  say 
aiuiwer,  perhaps  from  vanity  I  use  an  improper  term.  Our 
course  is  this.  I  write  my  opinion  on  a  separate  slip  of  paper, 
and,  after  Marryat  has  read  and  approved  or  corrected  it,  his 
clerk  copies  it  on  the  case.  He  has  never  differed  from  me  on  u 
point  of  law  except  in  one  or  two  instances.  As  often  as  I  have 
seen  my  opinions  copied  they  have  appeared  nearly  as  I  wrote 
them.  I  must  in  candor  allow  that  for  u  man  of  my  standinjf  I 
am  a  tolerably  gootl  lawyer,  and  if  I  had  any  bu.sinoAs  I  mij;lit 
do  it  decently;  but,  upon  my  honor,  from  what  I  observe  of  the 
profession,  I  am  convinced  that  these  considerations  are  of  very 
little  consequence.  The  useful  talent  is  the  talent  of  forming 
<»nnecti()ns,  and  of  getting  business.  Of  this,  I  fear,  I  am 
altogether  destitute. 

Term  begins  to-morrow  se'nnight.  The  new  season  opens  so 
inausj)i(;iously  that  I  can  feel  little  disappointment  in  the  course 
of  it.  But  even  if  it  should  prove  as  bad  as  I  look  for,  do  not 
fear  that  I  shall  relax  my  cntleavors  from  despondence.  My 
patien(;e  and  perseverance  are  unconquerable.  I  have  got 
expedients  in  store,  and  I  still  anticipate  final  success.  My 
mind  feels  the  easier  having  thus  disburthened  its<;lf.  Pray 
Heaven  that  this  be  not  at  the  expense  of  making  your  heart 
heavy.  •   . 

VOL  I.  10  ' 


'•■  r, 


218 


IJKK  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1807. 


Tompln,  r>oo«tnbor  fl,  IHO7. 

My  di:au  Buotiier: —  .  .  .  Don't  you  recollect  how  I  oncv 
affroutoil  you  upon  your  first  arrival  in  London,  by  doubting 
whether  you  would  pass  for  an  En^^liHhniun?  I  have  now  Ijecn 
between  nine  and  ten  yearn  in  England,  during  which  time  1 
have  mixed  almost  exelusively  with  Englinh,  taking  all  poHniblc 
pains  with  niyself,  and  having  all  o[)portunitics  of  improvement, 
from  the  senate,  the  stage,  and  the  bar ;  yet  to  an  ear  of  any 
delicacy  my  provincial  accent  is  discoverable.  I'erhaps  it  is  not 
cosy  to  isay  of  what  particular  province  the  accent  is,  but  it  is  nut 
purely  English. 

The  two  subjects  you  mentioned  as  having  caused  you  unxidy, 
I  am  afraid  now  oidv  exciitc  lamentation.  The  continental  war 
and  my  dChut  at  the  bar  have  neither  of  them  been  attended 
with  very  brilliant  succea-i.  However,  I  will  not  follow  the 
example  of  Austria,  Prussia,  and  Russia  in  sinking  under  bad 
fortune.  I  rally  IVom  defeat  and  call  forth  fresh  energy  its 
difliculties  press  upon  me.     Read  the  following  agreement : 

'  lohn  Campbell,  of  Innur  Temjilo  Liine,  Fsquiro.  barriater-at-law  agrees  to 

report  "tlio  caHoa  argiiod  and  (luterminoil  at  Nisi  I'rius,"  and  to  nell  all  the 

copyright  thoroof  to  Joseph  Butterworth,  ol'  Floot  Street,  bookRellor,  for  thu 

Hum  of  fifty  poundH  for  each  and  every  number  which  Joseph  Butterworth 

shttU  HoU,  retail,  at  five  HhillingH  per  copy,  and  for  a  greater  or  Iors  Bum  in 

proportion  to  the  retail  price.    The  money  to  be  paid  within  three  months 

after  the  ])ublication  of  each  number  respectively,    Joseph  Butterworth  agrees 

to  purchase  and  pay  for  the  same  accordingly. 

'  John  CAMPBKMi. 

'Joseph  Butterworth. 
'November  27,  1807.' 


I  have  had  this  plan  in  contemplation  for  some  months,  but 
had  not  brought  matters  to  a  settlement  till  about  ten  days  ago. 
The  most  embarrassing  circumstance  was  the  field  being  in  some 
measure  preoccupied.  A  barrister  yclept  Espinasse  has  rej)ortcd 
the  wuses  hitherto,  but,  particularly  of  late,  in  a  very  negligent 
and  slovenly  style.  I  was  in  hopes  he  would  have  given  up  to 
me ;  however,  he  says  he  shall  go  on.  I  shall  certainly  beat 
him,  for  not  only  do  I  thiidc  that  I  can  do  the  thing  better,  but 


1807.] 


liKlHIIlTM    MHI    IMIU'H   •  AsW. 


219 


Biittcrwnrth,  tbnnorly  IiIh  puhlirilit  r,  ffl'iiscH  to  liuvc  anything 
niot-o  to  my  to  hitii,  uiid  has  u  eoinpluto  cdtntniind  of  thu  nmrkct, 
HO  sif  to  Im!  uI)I<!  to  t'on-o  tny  RviHU'tM  Into  ninnilution.  You  will 
fH'ii  tilut,  lit  any  nitv,  I  run  no  pocuniiiry  HhU.  On  the  contrary, 
I  cx|>c('t  to  iiiukf  XlOO  u  year.  EHpinawv  h;ts  puhlishiHl  only 
oiH'  nuiniM  r  a  year,  but  I  cxjicct  to  make  out  two.  The  chief 
adviuitat^c  of  tlic  Hclicmc  is  gaining  a  little  notoriety.  I  have  a 
soIht  hoi>e  that  it  may  introduce  me  to  bu><itu>MM,  and  lay  a 
foundation  for  my  proft'snional  HUt^cess.  I  was  ntartlrd  a  g<XKl 
deal  l)y  the  words  'reports'  and  'reporter/  but  in  fact,  to  colloctt 
and  publiuh  the  decisions  of  the  judges  in  un  extremely  reputjiblc 
tiusk,  and  has  l)een  perfornu'<l  either  by  barristers  or  the  judges 
themselves.  I  l)egan  to  take  notes  on  Monday  last,  and  I  ho|K! 
to  have  a  number  out  by  next  Easter  term.  I  meet  with  great 
eueouragement  from  all  my  young  friends  in  the  Imck  rows  of 
the  King's  Bench.  It  was  nettessary  to  try  something,  as  there 
was  no  pros}>ect  of  my  getting  on  at  all  without  striking  out  of 
the  common  path.  This  may  prove  more  valuable  to  me  than  a 
commission  of  bankrupts. 

[Thus  he  speaks  in  the  Autobiography  of  his  Nisi  Priiu 
Reports. — Ed.]  : 

I  was  now  engaged  in  a  task  which  in  several  ways  proved 
very  serviceable  to  me — reporting  the  Nisi  Prius  decisions  of 
Lord  Ellenborough.  Although  the  judgment  of  the  courts  in 
banco  had  been  regularly  rej>orted  from  the  time  of  Edward  II., 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  rulings  of  C.  J.  Holt  and  0.  J.  Lee 
to  be  found  in  Lord  Raymond  and  Strange,  Nisi  Prius  reporting 
was  not  attempted  till  the  time  of  T^ord  Kenyon,  when  Nisi 
Priurt  cariPH  were  publi><hr(l  by  I't^ako  and  by  Espinasse.  These, 
though  Hueored  at,  were  lM)Uglit  and  were  (jiiotcxl. 

An  opportunity  for  Nisi  Prius  r<'])orting  now  openetl  such  as 
will  never  recur.  From  the  unexarjipled  war  in  which  wc  v/ere 
involved  Avith  Napoleon ;  from  his  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  and 
oiu*  Orders  in  Council ;  from  the  violations  of  neutral  con^merce ; 


220 


I.IKK  OK  \Am\>  I  \Mi'iit>:i.i.. 


[1807. 


from  llic  HVr^tnn  of  li(!«<iiM'H  to  go  to  hoHtilr  |M)r(M  ((runted  \ty  Ixtth 
([[ovcriiiniiitH ;  t'rniii  th(>  MiM'kiultH  (l<><'lui-«>(|  witlioiit  iMmcr  to 
«>iirnrci<.  tlii'iii ;  iVoin  the  right  of  M-iinli  mm  ntvA'vUtl  hy  our 
rriiiMTH,  not  only  to  (liM'ov«>r  (•ni'inii'H*  |)ro|M'rty  hut  KnglJHh  m>u- 
mcn  in  Anicri<-ini  lM>ttorn,s;  and  iiIn)Vc  nil  iVoin  th(>  pnictict! 
iilnioHt  univiTHiilly  intrtNluccd  of  merchant  HhifM  carrying  'Niniu- 
lute<l  impern/  reprenMiting  them  aH  having  come  from  any  given 
|N>rt  from  which  intercourM>  wiw  |H>rmitt(H|  with  the  |M>rt  to 
which  they  were  tieMtine<l,  and  re|ire,Henting  the  giMNU  on  iHMtnl 
to  [yo  of  any  origin  t(»  nuit  tht;  regulations  there  in  fonv;  |)a|M>r 
mmiIh  and  nignaturcs  lM>ing  fal)ric4ite<|  ho  uh  to  ih'ceive  all  tliu 
world,  hy  men  who  openly  kept  a  niaga/inc  where  they  wero 
HoM — more  new  qucMtionn  urow?  lM>tween  iinderwritci'H  and  nicr- 
chants,  iK'tween  Hhipctwueix  and  HJiipperH  of  g(KMln,  U'tween  for- 
eign conHignerH  and  lOnglish  factors,  in  a  ningle  year  than  in  a 
trntury  of  |H'a«'e  or  regular  warfare.  The  |H>r|N>tual  fluctuation 
in  the  |)rice  of  comnitHliticH  caUM(>  innumcrahle  crtntroverMicH 
rcH|>ccting  the  fulfdment  of  contnu'tn.  The  suH|H'nHion  of  (u^h 
payments  and  the  growing  <h'prc«'iation  of  th«i  paper  currency 
gave  a  ruinouH  impetus  to  spc<-ulations  wliich  hronght  ahoiit 
numerous  failures,  and  n(!ccssarily  occasioiu>d  a  mass  of  haiik- 
ruptcv  litif;;ation  hcfore  unknown.  For  these  reasons  the  Guild- 
hall bn-tincss  was  ten  times  greater  than  when  Lord  Manstidd 
was  Chief  Justice,  he  never  appointing  m<»rc  (Itan  one  special 
jury  cause  in  a  day,  and  finishing  his  paper  within  a  week  after 
term,  whereas  the  sittings  now  continuiHl  from  th»'  end  of  term 
for  a  week  after  the  conunenecuncnt  of  the  (circuits,  and  eight  or 
ten  s[»ccial  jury  causes  w<'re  appointed  for  a  single  day. 

Probaldy  no  other  judge  than  Lord  Kllenborougli  could  have 
supported  such  a  burden  as  was  now  cast  uixai  him ;  and  there 
certainly  never  was  such  a  judge  for  a  Nisi  Prius  reporter.  He 
was  not  only  laborious  and  indefatigable,  but  lu'  was  acute,  rapid, 
bold,  decisive,  ratiiK'inative,  an<l  el(Mpient.  He  never  shirkwl  any 
point  that  was  raised  before  him,  or  decidwl  it  without  copiously 
and  pointedly  giving  his  reasons.  He  had  some  barbarisms  of 
pronunciation  which  were  supposed  to  have  been  brought  from 


1807.) 


NIHI    ntlUH    |{KI><)IITH. 


221 


Cuml)orluml  uinl  which  h«  never  ntteiiiptetl  to  « ornn't,  aiul  hu 
Hoiiii'tiiiicM  In'ciiiiu!  (|imiiit  in  trying  to  In>  iorcihle ;  but  Kcucnilly 
ii|M>akiii((  hiH  dit'tioii  wiw  nervous,  liiiiiiiiouH,  and  chu^Hical.  Ho 
biwl  likrw'iHc  a  rich  fund  oi'  humor  and  an  un<'«)n)inon  power  of 
Mirca^ni,  which  often  MuvohmI  hi-i  jnd};nu>ntM,  ami  (^ave  life  and 
uniniation  to  the  priM-cciiin};^  of  the  court  in  which  he  preHithtl, 

Lord  I'llienlMirou^h  oU){ht  to  have  lM><>n  |Nirti«-tdarly  grateful 
to  nie  for  HUpprcHr<in}i;  hin  IhuI  (K'cisionH.  Hir  JanieN  iMaiiHnehl, 
Chief  JuNtiiw  of  the  Conunon  IMea^,  acconling  to  Taunton, 
ol)W>rve<l :  *  Whoever  rea<lM  CamplM'lJ'M  Reports  and  conwider* 
the  many  new  and  diillciilt  ({UCHtionH  which  came  l)efore  Lord 
KllenlMmuigh,  nuiHt  In>  HurprimHl  to  Hnd  how  uniforndy  right  ho 
in  in  hiH  dctMHionH.'  The  wonder  may  n  little  alxite  when  I  Htato 
my  'garbling  procens.'  Befon*  each  nund)cr  wax  Ht>nt  to  the  presM 
I  carefully  reviHcd  alt  the  cuhcs  I  hail  (collected  for  it,  and  rejected 
MU^x  tiH  were  inconriiMtent  with  former  deciHious  or  recognized 
principles.  When  I  arrived  at  the  end  of  my  fourth  and  lost 
volume,  I  had  u  whole  ilrawer  full  of  '  bad  Ellenborough  law.' 
The  tlinuit  to  publish  thiu  I  might  have  u.se<l  an  u  weai)ou  of 
oll'enoe  when  he  was  rude  to  me ;  but  ]m  reputation  is  now  secure, 
for  the  whole  collection  was  reiluced  to  ashes  in  the  great  fire  iu 
the  Temple. 

The  Reports  from  the  Hrst  had  a  great  circulation  among  mer- 
chants jw  well  as  lawyers,  and  they  were  regularly  reprinted  in 
America,  where,  as  I  am  informed  by  Professor  Story,  the  cele- 
brated American  jurist,  they  continue  to  be  much  studied  to  the 
present  day.  Being  chiefly  on  commercial  questions,  they  were 
cited  in  New  York  and  Boston  and  the  Supreme  Court  at 
Washington  at  much  as  in  Westminster  Hall. 


222 


l.l^'K  (>»'   I4)ltll  l.'AMI'MKI.I.. 


[1A08. 


CHAITKU  Vlll. 


JARtrAKr,  IMM— FrnNiURT.  IHIO 

Firit  Niiniher  of  Niii  Print  ItoporU— .Sir  Vwnry  (iibbn— Jatiiai  Alltn  P>rk- 
Hrnrlott-  (itiriiMy  nniiiKliiviii  -Thinl  r'ir< ml  willxxit  a  Ilriof— 8|i««i'li  m 
Co\\n*t'.\  to  oppiiKo  n  Htil  at  tlm  liitr  ni'  tlm  IIoiixk  of  l.or>lii  — lliii  I''ath*r 
viiiit*  liiii)  in  Ldiwlon— I'uurtii  Mnrtml  nt  ('hulnixloril  atxl  at  Chultea— 
rortrmt  id  Dr.  <'i»tn|ilMll  hy  '.Villiiit  -Kourili  t  iniiit  — riililuulion  Df 
Boconij  Niiiiilur  of  KiiporiH-  IIn  t'Irrk  <'i'0|ii'r— PiM^rcim  in  (Icitinn  Hum 
n»M — IIoMh  Uriofn  for  Murrynf  nnil  otli^rp— Tliro"  Wm'k»  at  Briijliton— 
Anoedotnii  of  Mit;hnf>lmo*  Term. 

Ttiiu)i|«,  Juniinry  1,  I^OH. 

My  DKAlt  ItitoTiii  It : — I'ti'liapN  you  hit  how  Ix'^^itiiiin^  tliiM 
year,  iw  you  did  tlu^  Uwt,  hy  writing;  to  your  i'l  i«iidH.  ])ut  I  tor- 
get  tlmt  by  tliiH  tiuin  your  <lay  \h  well  N|H'nt. 

IlUr  tfra  riihriit  iii'irnrlU  himiim  Vfn^er.** 

I  IhjUovo,  however,  that  iicitlu'r  tirrm  nor  diMtmice  will  ever 
have  anv  elleet  to  impair  vour  attachment  for  those  whom  vou 
have  )iithert4)  chc'rished  with  nneh  warmth  and  HtcadiiieM  .  .  . 
My  schi'me  has  hitherto  Miicerede<l  heyond  my  ex|M<'tation8. 
P^H|>inaK><edid  not  take  a  note  (hiring  thebittin;rs,  and  I  ^ee  little 
danj^er  of  a  new  i  ival.  Two  or  three  harristern  have  made  over- 
tures to  join  me,  but  \  a|>|)rehend  no  opposition.  What  Inw 
chiefly  ji;ra(ifietl  me  hii.s  l«H;n  the!  polit<'ness  and  civility  I  have 
cxperieiii'ed  from  th(Mvhole  Kin^^'n  JJeiich  bar.  I  have  had  little 
communication,  to  be  Niire,  with  the  Kind's  counstd,  but  all  the 
other  nu^n  in  busines.^  in  the  court,  almost  without  an  exception, 
have  en(!oura<^ed  mo  to  piwictnl,  have  assisted  n»e  witli  informa- 
tion, and  Imve  lent  mc  their  briefs.     It  now  rcmuins  to  be  seen 


►Virgil,0«(»r(/.  i.  250. 


IHOH.] 


yillH't   M'MMKU  OK   MM    IMlll  «   i(Kr«>irrN. 


2'ia 


MliftliiT  I  mil  ii|iiiil  lo  Mm'  iiii<l)'riti!.'ii;;.     If  I  f'liil  t  iiiii  irri'VtH 

niltly  t^nrir.       It*  I  Hl|<i't'c«|   I  j;itill  a  •  vi'tililMlry;|-i>«>  of  tliri-ct  |>I1>IU 

iiikI  itMiMiili-nttiori,  mill  I  lay  llif  riMiiulatlitu  Ini*  riiorc.  Myf|ii«>f 
ilaiiK^T  i"*  tl>'>l  I  'iioy  <li^|ili'!i>«'  tlio  Cliii't'  •liMiici'.*  Hi!  in  ii|tt 
iNi-iiMioiially  In  liliiiiilt'r,  mi<l  lie  will  not  U*  Ilatti<rr<l  l>y  miiiiij 
Iii?4  liliitiil<>rM  ctTitnlcil.  IItt\v«'v«i*,  \  muM  Inixf  to  my  own  ilimTiv 
ttoti  ill  Hii|i|ii'i-<.'4iii^;  nM>«>M  coiitritry  to  (ii-ciilnl  aiitliot'iti<'M,  mul  |io|m< 
troni  liirt  Hcll'-lovi'  tliat  lir  nill  coiiHitli'i*  liini'^vlf  rij^lit  aiul  \un 
|irf«l(>n>w'orM  ill  the  wroiiy;,  I  (>x|M*ft  a  imiiiiIht  out  in  alxitil  u 
month  or  ^Ix  wcckH.  Tli<-  rlilct'  olijri'tion  to  tliiM  will  Ih>  that  it 
notiii-H  iht'  «li>ciKioiiH  tiMt  iri(ii.>*c>t'iiu!iiii(<'ly,  hut  it  wiim  of  iin|)ort- 
uiict!  to  (Ni-iipy  th<^  (i«>I(I  i\x  M|M>«>(lily  n>*  poHNihlt*,  and  I  riiiiHt  tako 
mich  iiiatcrialH  as  I  nui  rmtl.  I  think  I  may  have  two  yoiut 
nutulM'i'H  I'vory  y(iir.  Th(!  lahor  Ih  «rvcr«  hut  itn|»rovin;{.  In 
Hhoi't,  thoti^h  I  tniiKt  r*(ill  iVcl  nuich  anxiety  (i|>on  tht>  ^uhjcct, 
I  think  at  thin  monit>nt  that  thu  thin}^  m  Wkoly  to  turn  out 
wril. 

TainpU,  .Tanunry  22,  IHOn. 

My  DRAii  Bwyrifi-Mi: —  .  .  .  Our  wlHoacre  |:H)liticiunH  talk 
much  of  tho  march  of  n  French  army  throii^^h  IVrsia  into  II in- 
(lostan.  This  iii>|M<ai'rt  to  mu  if  nut  a  rhimcrical  at  leaxt  a  very 
(li.staiit  tlan^fcr.  1  will  iiuliil^c  a  fond  hopo  of  India  enjoy in^ 
profound  tniixjuillity  while  you  remain  there,  and  that  heforo 
yiiu  return  to  this  country  the  ntorms  that  now  agitate;  Europu 
will  have  <!oinpletely  Hulwided.  .  .  . 

I  dined  to-day  in  ItiisHell  N<{uare  with  Marryat.  I  continun 
to  answer  (u-^es  for  him,  although  it  is  very  clear  that  a  dinner 
is  all  the  heiielit  I  shall  ever  derive  from  my  labor.  The  excr- 
eiso  occupies,  improves  and  Hatters  me. 

Term  hejiins  to-iuorrow.  I  aske»l  my  hairdresser  what  he 
wcaild  give  mv.  for  my  profits  in  the  course  of  it.  *  Not  half 
the  price  of  tlu;  new  wig  I  am  making  for  you,  sir,'  said  he ;  and 
he  would  have  had  a  bad  bargain.  But  Dunning  was  seven 
yeara  without  a  brief.  ... 

*  Lord  Ellen  borough. 


224 


LIFK  OP  LORD  CAMI'B£LL. 


[1808. 


[The  following  notice  of  the  lenders  in  Westminster  Hall  is 
cxtracto<l  from  his  Autobiography. — Ed.]: 

Giblw  WHS  at  this  time  Attorney-General,  and  tyrannized  over 
Westminster  Hall.*  He  had  the  greatet;^  reputation  for  law  of 
any  barrister  in  my  time,  a  reputntion  which  he  by  no  means 
sustained  on  the  bench  as  a  puisne  judge.  Chief  Baron,  and  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas.  He  was  the  most  conceited  man 
of  the  age,  and  he  was  at  no  pains  to  conceal  his  opinion  of  his 
own  superiority  in  intellect  and  acquirements.  Having  paid  an 
ironical  compliment  to  Garrow,  who  said,  'This  is  all  very  well 
as  a  sneer,'  he  rejoineil,  *I  meant  it  as  a  sneer.'  Garrow,  feeling 
himself  so  vulnerable  from  want  of  law,  was  afraid  of  him. 
Allan  Park,  next  in  business,  licked  his  foot,  and  no  one.  else  for 
a  long  time  ventured  to  resent  his  arrogance.  At  length  Topping, 
21  rough  Yorkshireman  who  had  lately  obtained  a  silk  gown  on 
th(!  Northern  cinsuit,  threw  a  stone  at  this  Goliath  and  laid  hira 
prostrate.  Topping  being  by  accident  counsel  for  the  plaintiff 
in  an  insurance  cause,  Gibbs  treated  him  with  more  than  usual 
superciliousness,  and  Topping  in  his  reply  ran  at  him  full  tilt, 
inveighed  against  the  air  of  superiority  which  he  assumed,  and 
introduced  the  quotation  from  Shakespeare : 

...  He  doth  bestride  the  narrow  world 
Like  a  Colossus,  and  we  petty  mea 
Walk  under  his  huge  legs  and  peep  about 
To  find  ourselves  dishonorable  graves. 

The  sensation  was  very  great,  and  all  in  court,  from  the  noble 
Chief  Justice  to  the  crier,  relished  Sir  Vicary's  wooden  looks  and 
ghastly  smiles.  The  attorneys,  to  whom  he  used  to  be  intolerably 
insolent,  rejoice<l  in  his  humiliation,  and  showed  their  gratitude 
by  showering  briefs  on  Topping.  The  'Liberator'  was  intro- 
duced into  Parliament  by  Lord  Grenville,and  might  have  reached 
the  high  honors  of  the  profession  had  it  not  been  for  his  intem- 


*  lie  was  Attorney  General  from  1807  till  1812,  whea  he  was  made  a  judge. 
—Ed. 


1808.] 


JAMl-H   ALLAN  PARK. 


225 


perate  habits.  He  never,  like  Clifford,  indulged  in  morning 
potations,  but  'his  custom  always  in  the  afternoon'  was  to  drink 
a  bottle  of  port  wine,  and  sometimes  much  more.  I  recollect  a 
great  City  attorney  saying  to  me:  *A  very  remarkable  thing 
happened  to  me  last  night ;  I  found  Mr.  Topping  at  consultation 
quite  sober.'  His  constitution  could  not  stand  such  a  life  as  some 
of  his  stouter  companions  led,  and  he  soon  after  died.  But  these 
habits  formerly  were  not  very  uncommon  at  the  bar.     One  of 

my  earliest  consultations  was  at  the  chambers  of  Serjeant , 

then  the  leader  of  the  Northern  circuit,  and  he  was  so  drunk  that 
he  could  not  be  got  to  talk  of  the  cause ;  and  he  would  only  say 
to  Mr.  Chippendale,  the  attorney,  *  Chip,  my  boy,  do  you  recol- 
lect that  famous  St,  Leger  when  you  and  I  were  together  on  the 
course  at  Doncaster?'  Another  consultation  was  appointed  the 
evening  before  the  trial,  when  he  was  so  far  gone  that  he  could 
not  talk  at  all,  and  soon  fell  into  a  deep  sleep.  Yet  next  day  he 
conducted  the  cause  with  great  ability,  and  won  the  verdict. 

James  Allan  Park  by  his  book  on  the  Law  of  Insurance  had 
risen  to  a  considerable  eminence.  He  was  a  very  good-natured 
man,  and  very  liberal  in  giving  away  money ;  but  his  extreme 
obsecjuiousness  gave  countenance  to  the  prejudices  against  the 
Scottish  nation  which  were  so  prevalent  when  Sir  Archie  McSar- 
casm  and  Sir  Pertinax  McSycophant  where  exhibited  upon  the 
stage — prejudices  which  were  then  languishing  and  have  since 
died  away.  He  was  the  subject  of  many  epigrams,  particularly 
by  Darapier,  afterwards  a  judge  of  the  King's  Bench,  to  whom 
the  following  was  ascribed : 

James  Allan  Park 
Came  naked  stark 

From  Scotland ; 
But  now  wears  clo'ea, 
And  lives  with  beaux, 

In  England 

After  he  was  raised  to  the  bench,  by  a  not  unnatural  transition, 
he  became  very  presumptuous  and  overbearing.  But  he  was  still 
cowed  by  Gibbs,  his  chief,  who  in  open  court  once  said  to  him, 


i^  h 


226 


TJFE  or  lonn  rAMPHEr-T,. 


[1808. 


t 


'Brother  Pnrk,your  authorities  all  make  against  the  doctrine  for 
which  you  (iite  them.' 

Scarlett,  from  Lord  Eldon's  dislike  of  his  Whig  politics,  had 
not  yet  reached  the  rank  of  King's  counsel,  to  which  he  was  well 
entitled,  and  not  being  by  any  means  a  favorite  with  Lord  Ellen- 
borough,  who  spitefully  said  'his  cross-examinations  gave  liink 
the  best  idea  of  eternity,'  he  was  not  yet  in  general  business;  but 
he  led  from  time  to  time,  showing  that  (juicknens  of  apprehen- 
sion, subtlety  of  reasoning,  admirable  skill  in  arranging  factr> 
proved  in  evidence,  that  insight  into  the  hearts  of  the  jury,  and 
that  invariable  and  thorough  conviction  that  he  was  entitled  to 
succeed,  which  afterwards  gave  him  an  unrivalled  ascendency  at 
the  bar. 

Gurney,  now  a  Baron  of  the  Exchequer — whose  father,  the 
celebrated  stenographer,  had  said  of  him  in  his  early  days,  when 
he  assisted  in  defending  Hardy  and  othere,  prosecuted  at  the 
commencement  of  the  French  Revolution,  that  'his  son  John 
was  getting  on  very  well  in  the  sedition  line' — was  now  coming 
round  to  assist  the  Attorney-General  in  Government  prosecu- 
tions, but  had  no  private  practice,  except  in  assaults  and  con- 
spiracies. 

Brougham,  that  erratic  star,  had  appeared  above  the  horizon, 
with  fear  of  change  perplexing  barristers.  He  was  tried  in  cases 
of  libel  and  seduction,  and  spouted  most  admirable  speeches ; 
but  he  made  no  progress  in  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  attor- 
neys, who  thought  he  was  more  solicitous  to  display  his  own 
powers  than  to  win  the  verdict ;  and  till  after  the  overwhelming 
renown  he  acquired  in  defending  Queen  Caroline,  he  had  very 
little  Nisi  Prius  business  in  London. 


Temple,  February  10, 1808. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  was  considering  to-day  what  offence 
I  could  have  given  to  the  family  that  you  should  have  entirely 
abandoned  me,  when  your  box  was  brought  in  by  a  porter — 
your  box  which  was  as  full  of  blessings  as  Pandora's  was  of  evils. 
I  am  not  yet  hardened  enough  to  be  insensible  to  such  kindness. 


1808.] 


FIRST  NUMBER  OF  REPORTS. 


227 


.  .  .  Now  I  am  .supplied  with  shirts  to  la^t  me  till  I  am  a  judge. 
I  really  had  no  occasion  for  any  addition  to  my  stock  at  present. 
My  cotton  ones  remain  good,  and  my  last  linen  ones  are  not  at 
all  the  woi"se  for  wear.  The  shortbread,  I  declare,  is  the  most 
exquisite  thing  I  ever  tasted.  I  am  astonished  that  the  English 
have  no  cake  of  this  kind.  The  bun,  too,  is  w^rtainly  far  prefera- 
ble to  a  Twelfth-night  cake,  so  sweet  and  so  cloying.  The  mut- 
ton ham  shall  Ik;  dressed  according  to  your  directions.  You 
endangered  the  whole  Ixjx  by  en(^losing  the  whisky,  but  it  will 
taste  the  more  delicious  for  being  smuggled. 

I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  David  Wilkie's  illness,  and  shall  call 
upon  him  very  soon.  I  assure  you  my  admiration  of  him  by 
no  means  falls  short  of  yours.  Would  that  I  were  in  as  fair  a 
way  to  acquire  an  illustrious  reputation  ! 

The  only  reason  for  my  wishing  you  to  come  up  in  the  end  of 
March  was  that  I  should  then  have  been  at  j)erfect  liberty  to 
wait  upon  you.  In  May  I  shall  be  a  slave.  However,  I  do 
think  you  had  better  allow  the  equinocttial  gales  to  be  over  before 
you  embark,  and  we  must  try  to  be  together  as  much  as  possible. 
It  is  a  pity  you  could  not  bring  all  the  girls  with  you  at 
once.  .  .  . 

Tuinple,  February  15, 1808. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  My  firet  number  was  publishetl 
on  the  11th  instant.  I  have  not  met  with  anything  as  yet  pai"- 
ticularly  gratifying  in  respect  of  it,  neither  have  I  any  reason  to 
be  mortified.  Acconling  to  custom,  I  sent  round  copies  to  the 
judges  of  the  King's  Bench  and  Conmion  Pleas.  Lord  Ellen- 
borough,  as  Chief  Justice,  I  at  the  .same  time  addressed  in  a  let- 
ter of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 


My  Lobd: — I  trtke  the  liberty  to  present  to  your  lordship  a  copy  of  the  first 
number  of  my  Nisi  Prius  cases.  I  engage  in  this  undertaking  at  the  earnept 
request  of  many  of  my  professional  friends ;  but  it  is  only  your  lordship's 
approbation  which  will  induce  me  to  carry  it  on.  I  feel  that  at  the  present 
moment  it  is  open  to  «ome  one  to  render  an  essential  service  to  the  profession 
and  to  the  community  by  publishing  a  proper  selection  of  decisions  at  Nisi 
Prius.    But  it  is  better  that  these  '^.ecisions,  however  valuable,  should  be  lost 


228 


LIFE  OP  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1808. 


than  that  they  ihould  be  miHreproHonted,  and  npnn  any  intimation  of  my 

unfitness  for  the  difficult  though  humble  taxk  of  a  reporter,  I  shall  discoQ< 

tinue  my  labors  and  make  way  for  some  gentleman  of  moii'  accuracy,  dii> 

crimination  and  good  fortune. 

It  would  be  impertinent  in  me  to  trouble  your  lordship  with  apologies  for 

the  faults  of  thin  nnmbor,  or  with  thu  rules  which  a  littlo  experience  has 

enabled  me  to  liiy  down  for  ray  conduct  in  future      I  must  rest  contented 

with  throwing  myself  on  your  lordship's  indulgence,  and  declaring  that  to 

merit  your  lordship's  good  opinion  shall  bo  the  constant  study  of, 

My  lord,  your  lordship's  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

John  Campbell. 
5  Inner  Temple  Lane,  February  10, 1808, 

Bight  Hon.  Lord  Ellenborough. 

Thursday,  Friday,  and  Saturday  passed  away  without  any  an- 
swer, and  I  began  to  be  eonvinccd  that  I  had  offended  him,  and 
that  he  would  certainly  prove  hostile  to  the  publication.  How- 
ever, yesterday  one  of  his  lackeys  brought  me  the  following  note, 
which  is  civil  enough,  and  rather  indicates  a  disposition  to  be 
pleased: 

Lord  Ellenborough  presents  his  compliments  to  Mr.  Campbell,  and  returns 
him  many  thanks  for  his  obliging  communication  of  the  first  number  of  his 
Nisi  Prius  cases,  and  for  the  very  polite  letter  by  which  it  was  accompanied. 

Bloomsbury  Square,  February  14, 1808. 

Although  he  says  nothing  of  the  Reports  (which,  indeed,  he 
could  not  well  praise  without  praising  himself),  I  confess  I  was 
a  good  deal  gratified.  Having  had  the  book  for  some  days  he 
had  probably  looked  into  it,  and  I  trust  he  will  now  hear  it  cited 
without  expres.sing  any  indignation,  or  asking  *Who  is  Mr. 
Cami)bell?'  I  did  not  write  to  any  of  the  other  judges,  and  of 
course  could  not  hear  from  them.  I  have  received  congratula- 
tions and  compliments  from  many  of  my  friends  at  the  bar;  but 
these  would  have  been  precisely  the  same  whatever  the  merits  or 
demerits  of  the  Reports.  Probably,  indeed,  the  persons  who 
offered  them  had  never  seen  the  book  or  got  beyond  the  title- 
page.  One  man  (from  whom  praise  would  not  have  been  veiy 
valuable)  said  he  had  discovered  several  inaccuracies  in  the  cases, 
which,  however,  he  explained  to  be  in  once  or  twice  leaving  out 


1808.] 


THIRD  CIRCUIT, 


229 


the  names  of  counsel  who  had  held  briefs  in  the  oause.  The 
inconvenience  which  I  foresiiw  of  rei^rting  erroneous  decisions 
I  have  felt.  One  awo  T  was  obliged  to  cancel  after  it  had  been 
printed  oif,  and  there  are  others  that  had  better  been  left  out. 
But  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  make  the  most  of  my  materials, 
and  I  had  no  time  for  consideration. 


Temple,  Friday,  March  16, 1808. 

My  dear  Brother: — I  returned  last  night  from  Maidstone, 
and  expected  I  might  have  found  a  letter  from  you  on  luy  table; 
but  tli(  re  are  as  yet  no  arrivals  from  Bengal.  I  wanted  sadly 
something  to  recruit  my  spirits,  for  I  came  to  town  quite  flitri. 
No  brief;  no  prospect,  no  possibility,  of  ever  having  a  brief  on 
the  circuit.  If  I  had  all  the  learning  and  all  the  accomplish- 
ments which  I  could  wish  to  have,  what  would  it  signif  I 
am  quite  tired  of  the  circuit,  and  hate  the  idea  of  ever  joining 
it  again.  Apait  from  business  there  is  little  enjoyment  to  be 
derived  from  it.  The  men  in  themselves  have  amiable  qualities 
and  elegant  acquirements,  but  there  is  no  room  for  these  to  appear 
from  the  octnipation  and  manner  of  life  which  prevail.  All  is 
bustle,  confusion,  and  card-playing.  There  are  two,  and  only 
two,  ways  of  acquiring  distinction  amongst  us,  business  and  whist. 
I  have  no  business.  I  do  not  play  at  whist.  Consequently,  I 
am  the  most  insijinifioant  creature  l)elonging  to  the  circuit.  No 
one  disliites  or  abuses  me,  because  it  is  not  known  that  I  am  pres- 
ent. It  is  a  literal  fact  that  about  six  weeks  ago  Garrow  asked 
me  if  I  had  yet  fixed  upon  my  circuit !  At  Maidstone  I  have 
not  even  been  able  to  pick  up  a  point  of  law  for  my  second  num- 
ber. My  disbursements,  about  seven  guineas.  Among  other 
pieces  of  good  fortune  I  was  obliged  to  take  half  a  chaise  both 
going  and  coming.  I  travelled  with  Mr.  Roberts,  one  of  the 
most  respectable  men  on  the  circuit.  I  could  easily  have  gone 
in  a  post-chaise  with  two  scamps,  but  I  would  rather  have  hired 
a  chariot  and  six  for  myself. 

I  don't  know  whether  I  ever  attempted  to  convey  to  you  any 
notion  of  our  proceedings.    We  never  go  beyond  a  day's  journey 


L'fi  l''  •' 

\   'I 

W     .V.\ 


i 


'\'| 


230 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1808. 


from  London.  The  Aval  day  of  the  lu^izoH  at  any  place  wo 
tiuivcl  down ;  souio  urriving  iHiforu  diiiiu-r,  and  the  othora  in  tho 
evening.  A  few  ride  on  horscbiick  «>r  drive  gigH,  bnt  tlie  fur 
greater  number  go  in  iMMt-ehuinen.  We  inii.Ht  all  live  in  lodgingH, 
it  being  forbidden  to  sleep  ut  the  UiU)*,  on  acTxtunt  of  the.  attor- 
neys Ixiing  there;  but  at  one  inn  in  eaeh  town  we  all  num. 
The  firHt  night  there  i.s  a  general  supjier,  to  which  every  Imrrister  ut 
the  assizcH  must  contribute.  We  dine  together  next  day,  but  none 
pay  except  those  that  are  present ;  at  least  absentees  who  give  notice 
previously  that  they  shall  not  attend  by  the  existing  regulation 
are  excused,  although  it  was  formerly  otherwise.  The  leader  of 
the  circuit  (Mr.  Serjeant  Shepherd)  sits  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
and  Mr.  Junior  at  the"  bottom  of  it.  This  is  the  youngest 
barrister  present,  who  has  to  fill  a  very  arduous  and  disagreeable 
office  He  ordera  the  dinner,  settles  the  bill,  and  next  day  (or 
when  he  can)  duns  every  individual  for  his  reckoning.  But  his 
princi{)al  duty  is  to  take  care  of  the  wine.  We  have  a  stock  ut 
each  place,  and  the  junior  is  bound  to  see  a  proper  quantity 
brought  from  the  cellar,  and  to  guard  it  from  the  depredation 
of  the  waiters.  We  sit  down  to  table  about  five,  and  rise  ut 
seven.  The  men  of  business  then  retire  to  their  briefs  and  their 
consultations,  and  cards  are  called  for  by  the  men  of  pkusure. 
A  poor  stupid  wretch  like  myself  is  obliged  to  sit  in  the  rot)ni 
doing  nothing,  or  to  walk  into  the  fields,  there  to  gaze  ut  the 
stars  and  ponder  his  melancholy  fate.  I  find  it  impossible  to  go 
home  to  my  lodgings  to  read.  My  thoughts  are  dissipated  by 
the  bustle  of  the  day,  and  I  grow  more  and  more  melancholy  as 
I  have  leisure  for  reflection. 

The  next  day  we  dine  with  the  judges  (at  least  at  three  places 
on  the  circuit).  This  is  a  very  formidable,  uncomfortable,  dis- 
agreeable meeting.  The  two  judges  sit  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
cheek  by  jowl.  The  barristers  range  themselves  according  to 
seniority.  The  reverend  sages  of  the  law  unbend  a  good  deal 
on  these  occasions,  and  come  out  with  their  old  stories,  so  that 
the  circle  round  them  is  generally  pretty  cheerful,  but  duluess 
pervatlcs  all  the  rest  of  the  table.     The  dinner  is  always  good 


1808.] 


OOG8  TO  HORSHAM. 


231 


and  the  wine  execrable.  At  last  * Proeijciity  to  the  Home  Ctr- 
«ult'  ("omoH  to  our  relief.    This  toast  is  the  HJgnnl  for  <l(>|>urture. 

In  the  course  of  the  following  day  we  generally  get  bjwk  t<» 
town.  None  stay  after  that  unless  they  are  dctaine<l  by  business, 
for  the  briefs  are  all  delivered  and  the  chanecs  gone.  On  the 
first  day  of  business  wo  go  into  court  al)OUt  twelve  o'clock  (the 
judges  previously  attending  divine  service),  and  afterwards  at 
eight  in  the  morning.  The  civil  and  criminal  (courts  sit  at  the 
same  time,  and  men  go  from  one  to  the  other  as  business  or 
inclination  leads  them.  I  now  generally  stick  to  the  civil  courts 
for  the  sake  of  my  Reports. 

We  are  to  Ikj  at  Horsham  in  Sussex  on  Sunday,  from  whence 
we  go  direct  into  Surrey,  so  that  we  shall  not  Imj  back  to  London 
till  the  assizes  are  completely  over.  I  doubted  a  good  deal  about 
going  into  Sussex.  It  will  cost  me  seven  or  eight  guineas  with- 
out any  chance  of  reimbursement,  and  there  are  several  who  cut 
this  county  entirely.  But  it  is  now  too  late  to  play  a  small  and 
saving  game.  To  Horsham  I  go.  One  to  a  thousand  millions 
I  may  have  something  to  do,  and  I  must  always  be  upon  the 
watch  till  the  opportunity  occurs.  Besides,  Garrow  is  not  to  be 
there,  l)eing  off  for  Ijancaster  on  a  special  retainer.  Think  of 
such  !Ui  opening  for  a  young  man !  Alas !  I  must  again  hear 
the  questions  put  to  me,  witnessing  the  triumph  excited  by  my 
answers: — 'Well,  how  did  you  come  on  this  circuit?  Many 
briefs  ?  What,  none  ?  Not  one  all  the  way  round  ? '  All  this 
I  could  easily  bear  had  I  a  consciousness  of  l)cing  qualified  for 
the  profession,  and  could  I  anticipate  success  at  some  future 
period.  But  I  feel  frequently  the  most  oppressive  conviction  of 
my  own  insufficiency.  .  .  . 

I  dined  to-day  with  my  travelling  companion  Mr.  Roberts  in 
Brunswick  Square,  where  I  saw  a  perfect  picture  of  domestic 
happiness.  He  has  an  amiable  wife  and  six  children,  beautiful 
and  accomplished  as  angels.  Next  to  the  iclat  of  public  life,  this 
is  surely  what  human  nature  can  boast  of  as  most  valuable.  The 
scene  suspended  my  melancholy  for  a  while,  but  it  settled  upon 
me  with  tenfold  gloom  on  my  return  through  a  shower  of  snow 


232 


MFK  OF   LOUD  lA'tt'llKLL. 


[1808. 


to  my  cold  dreary  vhaiiilivrH  iti  Iiiik  :  'IVinplu  I^iiu.  In  yuur 
friuiidHhip  I  find  ut  ull  tiineti  rolivt'.  I  huvt;  felt  a  Hort  of  plun- 
Huro  in  coniplaining  to  you,  und  I  hIiuII  now  rutiru  to  ri>Ht  with  u 
bolter  chaiu-u  of  r(>fri>Htiing  nI(h>|>  tliiin  if  my  thoughts  liad  bcvu 
(wnfineil  to  my  own  boeom.     Forgivu  und  love  mu. 

TomiiUt.  HatunUy,  April  W,  1808. 

My  DRAR  Okorgr: —  .  .  .  I  HniHhcd  my  circuit  on  Monday 
week ;  earnings— one  guineti  a^  a  kite.  Thin  I  Injlieve  I  have 
explained  to  you  is  when  a  junior  couuHel  Ium  not  been  retained 
for  the  plaintiiV,  and  a  fee  in  given  to  the  junior  in  court.  The 
weather  was  »o  cold  as  to  render  travelling  very  disagreeable. 
However,  I  drank  some  gooil  wine  and  heard  Home  gtMxl  Htorics 
at  the  circuit  table. 

On  my  return  to  town  I  di<l  not  cxjurt  even  to  sign  a  half- 
guinea  motion  paper  till  EiLster  term.  Know,  however,  that  I 
have  since  been  s|>euking  in  the  Mouse  of  IVers,  and  addrestsng 
a  most  numerous  und  splendid  assemblage  of  their  lordships.  I 
shall  send  you  the  newspu|>ers  in  which  my  name  is  mentioned. 
Lest  you  should  think  the  matter  of  more  importance  than  it 
really  is,  I  had  better  say  that  I  was  retained  to  oj)j)ose  a  bill  to 
]>rohibit  the  exportation  of  Jesuits'  bark  by  a  great  London 
merchant,  who  petitioned  against  it,  having  a  stock  on  hand  to 
supply  the  consumption  of  Great  Britain  for  ten  years.  I  was 
hcui'd  on  Thui-sduy  at  four  oVl(H'k.  After  ojK'uing  my  case  I 
examincil  a  number  of  witnessc's.  I  then  craved  of  their  lord- 
ships that  I  might  have  till  to-morrow  to  prepare  for  summing 
up.  The  Lord  Chancellor  after  consulting  with  Lord  Hawkes- 
bury  said,  'The  lords  will  now  hear  you  sum  up,  sir!'  I  was 
Ix^inning  when  Lord  Grenville  interposed  and  urged  the  pro- 
priety of  acce<ling  to  my  request.  Upon  this  a  debate  arose, 
Lord  Grenville,  Lord  Holland,  Lord  Lauderdale,  Lord  Auck- 
land, and  Lord  Erskine  supporting  me,  and  Lord  Hawkesbury, 
Lord  Bathurat,  and  Lord  Barrington  opposing  me.  At  last  the 
House  divided  upon  the  question  whether  I  should  be  heard 
then  or  on  the  morrow,  when,  as  might  have  been  expected, 


1808.] 


CAHK   IN  TIIK   IIOITHK  OF    Umm. 


20:1 


tlierc!  upiKnirttl  u  lurj?e  majority  for  my  unKtixIlnj?  forthwith. 
Ho  I  wjw  aj^iiii  wulk*-*!  up  to  the  hw,  making;  my  thnt^  rcvcr- 
iiutw,  l>y  the  Yoomaii  Unhur  oi'  the  Hhick  Rod,  ntid  oltliged  to 
HUiii  up  tlie  l>i>Ht  way  T  coiiM. 

UjMHi  the  whole  I  waH  verj'  tar  iii(UH><l  from  a<(|iiittln)^  mynolf 
tu  my  own  Hiitisfactioii.  Hut  under  the  eireuiuHtaiH'eH  I  know 
not  that  I  could  reanonahly  e.\|H>et  to  do  much  U'tter,  or  that  I 
have  any  real  ground  for  mortification.  I  lalK)rc<l  under  every 
IKJHrtiblo  dinadvantage.  I  had  no  reguhir  Holi«'itor;  I  did  not 
know  wliat  evidence  I  hIiouUI  have  till  within  an  hour  of  going 
down  to  the  IIouhc;  I  Miw  the  oidy  eouuHel  at  the  bar;  the 
situation  wa.s  (juite  new  to  me;  the  House  wiw  very  crowded ;  I 
had  to  diir'ct  my  di^rourHe  to  the  I^>rd  C'hancellor  agaiuHt  a 
measure  which  he  wiu  himtH>1f  tdnxit  to  defend ;  I  wiw  in  the 
constant  terror  of  iH-ing  calknl  to  order  for  di>«'UMMing  the  hill  on 
groundH  t(X)  general ;  I  had  not  the  nlighteHt  notion  of  l)cing 
required  that  day  to  «um  uj).  I  don't  U'lieve  that  I  ponitively 
disgracetl  myself.  My  emjiloyers  expressed  themselves  satisfied, 
and  my  friends  say  that  I  did  very  well.  There  is  one  great 
step  I  made — that  no  human  tribunal  noe<l  now  greatly  daunt 
me  as  an  advocate.  What  shall  I  care  for  the  Surrey  justices 
after  addressing  Prinws  of  the  Blood  ?  In  two  newspapers  you 
will  sec  I  am  puflled.  This  was  from  no  interfen'iice  on  my 
part,  but  nuist  have  i)r(M!ee<le<l  from  old  connections.  To  con- 
clude, I  have  rcceive<l  for  my  services  a  fee  of  twenty-one 
guineas. 

Temple,  May  17,  1808. 

My  dear  Bhother  : — I  have  not  written  to  you  for  a  con- 
sidenible  time  past,  as  you  had  a  correspondent  in  London  from 
whom  you  will  derive  the  higluwt  degree  of  information  and 
annisement.  The  Doctor  sailed  for  licith  on  Sunday,  the  twelfth, 
and  as  the  wind  was  rcnuirkably  fair  for  three  or  Jour  days  after, 
I  trust  that  he  is  by  this  time  in  Cupar.  The  visit  went  off' 
beyond  my  most  sanguine  expe(!tations.  Our  father  (thank  God) 
is  stout  and  active  as  ever,  and  his  vivacity  and  good  humor  are, 

VOL.  I.  10* 


2a4 


LirK  OF   LOnD  OAMPDKMi. 


[1808. 


I 


if  |»n»wil>lo,  inon>iiMO(l.  IIo  really  h(h>iiu>«I  to  nw  to  viiyty  i>vi>rv 
hour  of  IiIh  Htiiy  \wn\  From  Ium  Joiiriml,  which  hi>  myn  U  very 
niintit<>,  yoti  will  m^  that  lu;  w»m  l>y  no  iiuiiiih  idle,  nnd  that  he 
lutHHiiplir^lKMl  all  the  ohjcctM  of  IiIm  ox|M>4lition.  Ho  desired  rnc 
to  tell  you  that  he  d(>M|HitchiHl  two  imeketM  for  you  from  LoimIdh; 
the  fintt  giving  an  act^ount  of  hii4  voyage  up  nnd  hiii  arrival  in 
town,  the  MMtuid  relating  IiIm  adventuix>H  for  alKnit  three  woekrt 
of  IiIh  ulxxle  hcn>,  and  that  he  will  complete  the  whole  m)on  atkr 
hiH  return  to  Cupur.  He  had  great  reaxon  to  Im>  natiHtied  with 
the  riH-eption  he  met  with  from  all  hiH  oM  friends.  It  fortunately 
hapiM>ne<l  that  I  had  a  good  run  of  luck  while  he  was  here,  ho 
that  he  <>on.Hidei*H  me  likely  to  get  on.  I  HuppoM>  he  liaN  told  you 
of  my  trip  to  Chelmsford  to  attend  a  court-martial,  and  niy 
return  with  XOO  in  my  pmket.  In  a  future  letter  I  must  take 
u  dctaiUnl  retntsjHH't  of  the  last  two  monthu.  At  present  I 
merely  write  you  a  line  or  two  with  a  hoiK!  of  still  catching  the 
fleet.  .  .  . 

We  are  all  in  high  splritr^  al)out  Spain,  hut  I  suppo8C  arc  again 
on  the  eve  of  disappointment. 

Templo,  July  1,  1808. 

My  deak  Fathku  : — I  intended  to  have  written  yesterday 
that  my  letter  might  reach  you  on  Sunday  evening,  hut  I  hud 
not  even  five  minutes  that  I  could  devote  to  this  pur|K)se,  and 
now  I  have  scarcely  more.  I  have  had  no  cxtraortlinary  press 
of  business,  hut  I  am  obliged  to  attend  in  court  as  much  as  if  I 
were  making  Bvc  thousand  pounds  a  year. 

I  have  been  Ix'fore  another  wurt-martial,  at  Chelsea  College, 
08  counsel  for  Lieutenant-Colonel  Maclean,  of  the  P^ngiiieers, 
prosecuted  for  peculation  by  General  Sir  Thomas  Trigge.  Mr. 
Adolphus  wa«  tivnt  retained  as  his  counsel,  and  attended  during 
the  prosecution.  He  was  then  suddenly  taken  ill,  Avhen  they 
made  a  pressing  application  to  me,  and  I  attendetl  <luriiig  the 
defence.  I  was  out  at  Chelsea  three  days,  and  had  divers  (•(»ii- 
sultations  in  the  matter  and  wrote  several  papers  at  home.  Mac- 
lean, I  lliiiiU,  is  likely  to  get  off.     The  only  other  j)rofc<si()iial 


1808."! 


l-AI.r.KI)   VltiS    DAVID   UII.KIK. 


23/) 


ii<)WM  I  liiivt'  ifiit  lor  you  in  lliut  I  tliit  dti)-  ui'Kiinl  a  (Icniiii'ri'r  in 
K.  H.,  itiiil  ffit  throu)(li  with  it  uo  well  iw  I  (•x|h><1o<I,  Th<> 
Ju(lKiii«iit  of  till'  court  wuM  uguiiut  mo,  but  I  kiivw  from  tliu 
iN'^iiiiiinK  that  I  hiul  nut  u  leg  to  Mtand  u|M)n.  HII<'nl)orouKh 
and  tlit>  otluT  ju(l)^>M  wcru  civil.  I  think  I  am  now  prvtty  well 
broku  in,  and  that  I  hIuiII  soon  get  rid  of  the  malady  under 
which  1  have  Hutrered  ho  nMich  hitherto^ — vix.,  pulpitation  of  the 
heart ! 


T«mplo,  AiigUHt  I,  IH08. 

Mv  DKAK  Fatiiku: — The  HittiugH  (thank  God!)  arc  over, 
and  I  have  again  a  little  loiHuru  to  write  to  my  iriendH.  The 
florne  circuit  lM>gin8  to  day  at  Hertford.  I  do  not  go  there,  uh 
there  is  no  buHincsM  to  bo  Hcen,  although,  wero  my  object  in  going 
the  <!ircuit  to  (/rt  buHinoM,  I  should  have  little  more  chumio  of 
MucccMH  in  any  of  the  other  counties  which  we  visit.  However, 
I  have  at  present  no  particular  reason  to  complain.  I  hud  a  few 
briefs  in  London,  one  with  seven  guineas  marktHi  on  the  l)aok 
of  it.  In  addition  to  which  the  most  flattering  thing  happened 
to  me  al)out  half  an  hour  ago  I  have  yet  met  with  in  my  pro- 
fessional career.  An  attorney  I  never  heard  of,  reconunondcd 
he  said  by  a  Mr.  Rcay,  to  whom  I  iiin  not  at  all  iwrsonally 
known,  brought  mo  to  settle  a  replication  to  u  plea  drawn  by 
iSerjeunt  Williamfl  to  a  writ  of  right,  and  ntqucsted  my  opinion 
whether  the  cause  couhl  Ijc  legally  trie<l  by  a  (;ommon  jury  as 
Williiuns  wished  it;  or  whether  there  nmst  l)C  tin;  Grand  Assiw; 
of  Knights  girt  with  swords,  the  mizc  being  joined  upon  the 
mmiiii  jiix!  It  will  Ihj  a  hard  ejirnwl-guinoa,  but  it  may  draw 
a  few  more  after  it. 

I  called  this  morning  after  breakfast  upon  David  Wilkie. 
When  he  Hrst  put  the  portrait*  into  my  hand  I  wim  disap- 
|)ointe<l,  but  afterwards,  when  1  placc<l  it  upon  the  mantle-piece 
and  looked  at  it  from  a  distance,  it  struck  me  as  one  of  the  best 
likoneases  I  had  ever  seen.     If  I  were  sure  it  would  reach  Agra 


« 
trait 


While  iliu  Rev.  Dr.  Cttiiipbell  was  in  London,  Wilkio  painted  a  Hraallpor- 
t  of  him,  now  in  tha  pos!<fS8ion  of  Lord  .Strnthedfin  and  Campbell. — Ed. 


.1.'"        :  f 


2.'t(t 


\.\Vy.  n»'   MM(I>  (AMI'lir.l.l,. 


[IHOH. 


■uf(>,  I  woiilil  w'ikI  it  «>ir  iiniiic<liut«'ly,  Imt  I  <ln  not  lik«>  tiM>x|i«iiH> 
it  to  Ml  Uttm  II  Joiinicy,  iiikI  hIiuII  tli«>n>roii>  kicp  it,  I  think,  till 
(}(>or^t•  (iinuft  honii'.  Wilkic  in  to  ^rf  it  rninutl  for  mv.  |(i> 
uliMolutvly  ii'luMii  taking;  imytliin^  for  |Nuntin^  it.  I  am  Mtrry 
for  tliiM,  hut  I  iin'MMtl  it  ti|Htn  him  an  (iir  km  I  ntiild  with  |iriH 
pricty.  I  wii^  ^lacl  to  juiu'  from  him  thiit  the  Duki'of  (iloiiii-M- 
ti>r  hiul  U'liavtil  very  liU'rully  to  him.  The  Htipiilatc*!  Miitn  \w 
will*  to  rtHH'iv«!  for  'Tht'Canl  IMay«'i*H*  wiim  tifty  ^^iiinniM.  His 
Uoyul  Hi}{hn(>MM  ffuvv  him  a  hiintlnil  and  (ifty.  I  am  rather  in 
|M(in  nbimt'Tlit'  Hirk  (iirl  and  the  IMiyHii'ian.'  Sjn'  in  a  fat, 
hlowHy-lcMtkin^  w«>n<>h,  and  h<>,  I  fear,  Iiiim  not  much  rharnctcr 
of  any  Hort.  Hut  [  ho|M>  that  h«>  will  y«>t  improve  the  pieei-  e«>n- 
Hidorahly, or  tiiat  my  opinion  «>f  it  in  <piite erroneous.  ( )n  tyiry 
account  I  take  the  liveliest  inton^t  in  IiIh  proHfH'rity. 

Tampit,  Augtmt  27,  I80M. 

My  KKAii  Okoim»k: —  .  .  .  Your  foin'  \n  extremely  lively 
and  intercHtin^.  Were  I  in  want  of  money  I  ciadd  hcII  it  to  u 
lHMtks<>ller  f(»r  £!)().  It  eontaiiiH  mutter  for  a  very  liiiiiiixoiiir 
tM'tavo.  We  mi^ht  i^ill  it  'The  Strau^fcr  in  the  Doual*,  or  n 
•)ouru<>y  to  explore  the  Soiirees  of  the  .lumna  and  llie(iatip>  iu 
in  1S07.'  IiiMtend  of  thin,  however,  I  have  wnt  it  to  Cupar, 
where  it  will  Im;  read  with  ^reat  ea^ji-rnesH  and  delight.  I  really 
<|uitc  envy  you  the  opportunities  you  have  to  see  what  is  won- 
derful, and  to  enlarge  your  mind  hy  eomparin^;  together  ilillercat 
climates,  reli^iouH,  Hta^cH  of  s<K'iety,  and  ratvs  of  mankind. 
You  nwiy  now  be  <h's«'rilMHl  as  Ulysws: 

•  ...   Mitre»  hominuin  mitUorum  uidit  el  urbei. 


I  hnp<j  you  may  hav<*  some  return  for  the  pains  you  have  taken 
to  amuse  us  in  the  accounts  our  fathi^r  has  written  for  you  of  his 
ex|MHlition  to  rion(hm.  I  have  seen  no  part  of  it,  hut  I  nni  sure 
it  miLst  he  a  ^rcat  treat  to  you  as  exhihitiiij;  |)er|M'tual  pr(M)fs  of 
the  activity  of  Ixnly,  the  vivacity  of  mind,  the  warmth  of  feel- 
ing, and  kindness  of  heart  with  which  our  dear  father  still  is, 


I«0H.) 


MKOlNll    n»  (IKT    ItMai.Alt    IIIMIM'MN. 


2.17 


ami,  I  triitt  in  (itxl,  Ioiik  will  fuiiliiiuc,  ti>  In>  LIckmiI.  lie  liwi 
lift  II  iiDMt  (iivorulilf  iiiiiirtftftioii  uiiioii)(Mt  my  ft'uuiU  hem,  who 
«»t)('ti  talk  of  liiiii  to  iiir  with  ni|>tiir«t. 

I  iitn  Miully  vcxiHJ  that  you  hiivi<  N4>iit  ho  very  lur^;!*  a  Hiini  of 
iiiuiit'y.  It'  tiiy  Incli  coiitiiiui'M  I  hIiiiII  Mimi>ly  want  any  (Hirtof 
it  lor  my  own  umc.  Sinci'  tli<>  iM'^innin^  of  lh<<  prcM-nt  y<iir  I 
liuvi'  i'fii'iv<>«l  in  l<><<x  no  Ichm  tliitn  2'JH  ^itinciu^ !  AlNtnt  one-half 
till'  amount  may  In*  a.'^-i'ilHil  to  a«'fii|rntr>  not  lik«>ly  to  ni'iir,  hut 
till-  other  half  iit  from  giNitl  ntciuly,  i-i>)(ii)ai'  huMini'^M,  which  I 
tuny  fairly  <iilculut«>  upon  i\h  likely  to  inci-iitMc.  Then  from  my 
lir«t  XiiiiiInt  I  drew  X*!!),  ami  from  the  Hei-oml  anil  tliinl,  whieh 
1  rtliall  publiHli  in  thoen.siiiii)^  Hea<«on,  I  may  ex|)e<-t  X'l '>0  or  i;2(K). 

Then,  reineml)er,  remit  me  no  more  in  future  tli!iii  what  I  am 
Id  Heiiii  huine  or  to  lay  out  w  your  tiKeiit  ueeonlin^  to  H|N>(;iH» 
ilireetiourt  given  me.  Von  hav(!  kept  my  head  alN>ve  water  for 
a  ^reat  numlM>r  of  years,  luit  now  I  Mliall  go  on  Hivlinmiixjly.  I 
U'lieve  you  have  felt  the  siiiri'reMt  pleasure  in  a^.si^ting  me,  hut  I 
iH-iieve  you  will  fe«>l  not  Wi*  in  knowing  that  1  prohahly  Hhall 
not  for  the  future  want  anv  ii.iHiMtanee,  It  eertainlv  miiht  vivid 
you  eoiiMiilerahle  MitiHfaetion  to  think  that  you  have  enahled  in« 
to  follow  that  plan  of  life  whieh  I  had  m  entliUhia.stieally  pro- 
jected, and  that  hy  your  iiieanH  I  havt;  now  a  fair  ehaiUHt  of 
attaining  a  reH|H-etal)le  ntation  in  MiM'iety.  I  talk  not  of  myohli- 
jfutioiiM  to  you  on  this  si'ore,  which  I  scariH'ly  fi-el  after  I  think 
of  the  unexampled  kindiKW  of  heart  you  have  ever  shown  mu, 
the  lively  interest  you  have  taki.'ii  in  my  fortunes,  the  indulgence 
you  have  extended  to  my  weaknesses,  and  your  anxious  exertions 
to  support  my  ('ouragc,  and  to  give  my  mind  a  tone  suitable  to 
the  arduous  (UU'eer  I  had  entered  upon. 

...  At  Maidstone  I  had  niv  first  brief  on  tin;  Home  circuit 
— fee,  four  guineas.  In  future  I  think  I  shall  go  the  (;ireuit  on 
horseback,  the  most  sidubrious  and  most  independent  miMle  of 
travelling.  The  worst  of  it  is  that  it  is  dilUeull  to  get  your 
luggage  along,  and  your  wig  and  gown  sometimes  arriv<'  in  the 
assize  town  when  the  assizes  are  over.  I  must  now  sit  down  to 
work  hard  with  my  Reports.     As  yet  I  have  not  been  able  to 


L^ 


I/I 


'         If 


"M 


238 


LIFE  OF  LOUD  ('AMIM«KLI<. 


[1808. 


get  in  my  hand.    One's  ideas  aro  drwidfully  disnipated  by  the 
noise  and  bustle  of  the  circuit. 

.  .  .  Wo  arc  in  hourly  exjiectation  of  hearing  of  the  surren- 
der of  Junot  to  Sir  A.  WellcHloy.  I  trust  you  will  have  heard 
of  this  and  much  good  news  Ix'sidcs  l)efore  the  present  epistle 
can  be  expcctc<l  to  reach  you.     Adieu  ! 


i1 


iJi 


Temple,  October  18, 1808. 

My  deak  Father: —  ...  At  the  Michaelmas  sessions 
there  was  very  little  business  for  any  one,  and  all  that  fell  to  my 
share  was  to  make  a  chance  motion  and  to  settle  articles  for  a 
benefit  society.  However,  I  had  a  very  pleasant  trip  to  Kings- 
ton ;  went  down  on  .the  evening  of  Tuesday,  the  4th ;  dined 
next  day  on  turtle  with  the  justices ;  on  Thursday  joined  ray 
friend  Leathley,  who  has  a  cottage  on  tlie  opposite  bank  of  the 
river,  took  a  trip  with  him  on  Friday  to  Windsor,  and  returned 
to  London  on  Saturday  to  dine  with  the  Beeswing  Club.  When 
I  re-entered  my  chambers  my  eyes  were  quite  dazzled  with  the 
glare  of  light.  The  painter's  brush  has  i)erformed  as  great  a 
metamorphosis  as  a  magician's  wand.  You  can't  imagine  what 
a  sumi)tuous  ap[)earance  my  sitting-room  now  has.  I  fear  the 
attorneys  will  think  that  such  an  apartment  is  for  a  man  of 
})leasure  and  not  a  man  of  business.  According  to  your  direc- 
tions I  have  got  the  walls  of  my  bedroom  i)roperly  scrubbed  with 
soap  and  water,  in  addition  to  Avhich  I  have  caused  the  ceiling  of 
it  to  be  whitewashed.  I  have,  moreover,  treated  myself  with  a 
new  library  table,  and  there  wants  only  a  good  assortment  of 
briefs  to  make  my  chaml)ci's  the  most  elegant  and  best  furnished 
in  the  Inns  of  Coui*t.  I  this  morning  corrected  a  j^roof  of  the 
last  sheet  of  my  second  Number,  so  that  it  will  be  published  in 
a  week.  You  may  be  sure  I  am  somewhat  anxious  to  know  what 
reception  this  Number  is  to  meet  with.  I  have  discussed  various 
l)oints  of  law  in  the  notes,  occasionally  rather  in  a  bold  style,  and 
it  may  be  thought  by  some  that  they  are  useless,  and  by  others 
that  they  display  more  presumption  than  learning.     However, 


[1808. 


1809.] 


DISLIKi:  OF  THE  SCOTCH   ACCENT. 


239 


I  don't  us  yet  repont  having  mldetl  them.     I  wish  to  appear 
something  more  than  a  mere  reporter. 

Our  adjourned  sittings  at  Guildhall  commence  this  day  fort- 
night, when  I  must  resume  my  labors.  Having  no  shooting, 
fishing,  or  coursing,  I  am  not  at  all  sorry  that  the  long  vacation 
dra\/8  U-  a  close,  not  but  that  I  have  perhaps  spent  it  as  agreeably 
as  thoc^  who  have  been  devoting  themselves  to  field  sports,  and 
I  may  have  a  little  advantage  over  these  gentlemen  in  the  ensuing 

term. 

Temple,  January  fl,  1809. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  You  have  not  only  more  leisure 
for  polite  literature  than  I  have,  but  really  you  seem  to  cultivate 
it  much  more,  and  to  far  greater  purpose.  Your  quotations  and 
poetical  allusions  are  more  frequent,  apt,  and  felicitous  than  are 
to  be  found  in  the  conversation  or  epistles  of  most  men  at  the 
bar.  The  men  of  business  with  whom  I  associate,  I  assure  you, 
are  the  merest  mechanics.  Some  of  my  briefless  friends,  indeed, 
are  very  accomplished,  libeml  fellows.  I  hope  to  introduce  you 
to  them  one  day,  and  I  am  certain  you  will  be  much  pleased  with 
the  society  of  each  other.  I  trust  you  have  pretty  well  got  rid 
of  your  Scotch  accent — a  thing  of  which  you  know  I  have  a 
perfect  horror.  It  is  not  merely  the  olxence  to  my  ear  which  I 
dread,  but  the  effect  upon  my  own  enunciation,  which  is  power- 
ful and  inevitable.  If  I  sit  a  whole  evening  in  a  company  of 
Scotchmen,  I  am  afraid  next  morning  to  open  ray  mouth  lest  I 
should  hear  a  compliment  upon  my  Doric  dialect. 

I  must  have  cleared  up  in  some  letter  that  is  lost  the  seeming 
contradiction  of  my  second  circuit  being  £15  better  to  me  than 
the  first,  although  I  had  not  a  brief  on  either.  When  on  my 
first  circuit,  in  the  Crown  Court,  my  pocket  was  picked  of  £16 1 
This  I  would  not  mention  on  any  account  to  our  father,  but  I 
thought  I  had  told  you  from  the  beginning.  My  circuits  have 
been  gradually  and  steadily  improving.  First,  £15  minus: 
second,  neither  received  nor  lost  money :  third,  had  a  guinea 
kite :  fourth,  had  a  four-guinea  brief.  The  present  Master  of  the 
Rolls  (Sir  William  Grant)  went  the  Home  circuit  ten  years  and 


240 


LIFE  OP   LOUD  CAMPBELL. 


[180y 


never  had  a  brief  upon  it.  I  have  l)een  more  fortunate,  but  J 
sliould  not  1)0  much  surprised  were  I  to  go  a  good  many  yeju"s 
without  having  had  two.  I  know  not  a  single  country  attorney, 
and  I  have  no  opportunity  of  making  myself  known  to  them. 
On  other  circuits  a  man  often  gets  business  by  rotation  j  but  oui-s 
is  so  crowded  that  unless  a  man  is  powerfully  pushed  he  never 
has  a  chance. 

We  are  in  a  state  of  the  most  unexampled  anxiety  concerning 
our  troops  under  General  Moore.  Not  the  least  doubt  is  enter- 
tained that  before  now  they  have  had  a  tremendous  battle  with 
the  French.*  When  I  think  of  the  inequality  of  numbers  I 
tremble  for  the  result ;  but  it  is  better  that  they  should  die  like 
brave  men  with  arms  in  their  hands  than  that  they  should  basely 
take  to  flight  before  coming  in  sight  of  the  enemy.  The  report 
of  the  court  of  inquiry  gives  almost  as  much  dissatisfaction  as 
the  Convention  of  Cintra. 

Temple,  February  2, 1809. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  remember  nothing  else  that  I 
have  got  to  tell  you,  except  that  I  am  to  have  the  honor  of  dining 
with  Jeeniy  Park,  K.  C,  on  Saturday,  and  that  I  have  been  obliged 
to  discard  your  old  friend  my  elerk.  I  found  it  impossible  to  keep 
the  little  scoundrel  in  chambers  when  I  was  absent  myself.  I 
have  now  retained  a  very  respectable-looking  fellow,  seventeen 
or  eighteen  years  old,  and  as  tall  as  myself  nearly.  In  conside- 
ration of  the  capital  place  he  is  likely  hereafter  to  have  of  it,  he 
consents  to  serve  me  now  for  128.  a  week  and  the  half-crowns. 
He  expec!ts  a  few  years  hence  to  carry  my  train  in  Westminster 
Hall  with  his  hair  in  a  bag  and  a  sword  by  his  side.  I  was  a 
good  deal  struck  when  he  told  me,  after  I  had  hired  him,  that 
his  name  was  dtpar.'f     What  say  you  to  this  omen? 


*  The  battle  of  Corunna  was  fought  on  January  16, 1809,  when  the  British 
army  was  •ompletely  victorious  ;  but  Sir  John  Moore  was  mortally  wounded 
by  a  cannon  ball,  and  died  in  a  few  hours. — Ed. 

f  ?Iis  name  was  Cooper.  He  continued  with  my  father  all  the  time  he  waa 
at  the  bar,  and  was  his  clerk  when  he  became  Chief  Justice  of  England.  One 
of  Cooper  8  sons  was  trainbearer  when  my  father  was  Lord  Chancellor. — Ed. 


1809.] 


THIRD  NUMBER  OF  REPORTS. 


S41 


Temple,  March  18, 180(f. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  can  no  longer  complain  that 
my  Reports  have  not  brought  mc  a  single  brief.  An  attorney 
called  u])on  me  lately  and  asked  me  if  I  attended  the  Surrey  Ses- 
sions. I  said  I  did.  He  then  requested  I  would  hold  a  brief 
for  him — adding  that  he  only  knew  me  from  my  publication. 
The  following  day,  ut  the  adjourned  sessions  in  the  Borough,  he 
gave  me  one  brief  with  five  guineas  and  another  with  two!  My 
third  number  is  all  printed,  and  nothing  is  wanted  but  the  index 
to  its  being  published.  This  I  am  afraid  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
finish  till  the  circuit  is  over.  The  mechanical  labor  in  prepar- 
ing a  book  for  publication  is  very  great.  I  have  been  two  days 
in  making  a  table  of  the  coses  I  have  reported.  I  would  much 
rather  have  been  shovelling  sand.  The  index  has  given  me  more 
trouble  than  you  can  easily  imagine.  I  was  some  time  much  at 
a  loss  for  a  motto,  and  read  whole  books  of  Cicero  without  find- 
ing anything  appropriate.  At  lost  I  hit  upon  the  following  sen- 
tence in  the  Pandects,  which,  although  it  has  nothing  to  do  with 
Nisi  Prius,  I  think  shows  the  value  of  Reports  in  general:  'Si 
de  inter pretatione  legh  quoeratur,  in  primis  innpiciendum  est  quo 
jure  clvitaa  retro  in  ejusmodi  casibus  usa  fuisset.'*  I  expect  to 
be  out  by  the  19th,  which  is  the  fii-st  day  of  Easter  term. 

Temple,  May  11, 1809. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  You  seem  haunted  by  the  ter- 
rors of  Bonaparte,  and  I  am  afraid  not  without  reason.  What 
will  you  think  when  you  hear  of  the  battle  of  Ratisbon?t 
There  is  no  longer  any  barrier  to  his  conquests  in  the  North  or 
in  the  East,  at  least  till  he  reaches  our  Empire  in  India.  Min- 
istei*s  are  said  to  be  dreadfully  alarmed  at  the  general  posture  of 
affairs,  and  there  have  been  strong  rumors  for  some  days  of  the 
Duke  of  Portland's  resignation.  A  change  would  give  me 
scarcely  any  pleasure.     The  present  men  are  bad,  but  those 

*PandeeU,  liber  i.  tit.  iii.  ^  37.    The  passage  continaea,  'Optima  enim  at 
kgum  interpres  consuetudo'     Corpus  Jurit  Qivilis,  vol.  i.  p.  62. — Ed. 
t  Battle  of  Eckmuhl,  April  22. 

VOL.  I.  11 


^^^^^pf  ' 

y^t. 

IjiW 

'tft,  ■' 

i| 

i  '  ,  h   •' 

■Hkii 

^^ku ' 

242 


LIFE  OF   TX)RD  CAMPnEI.L. 


L180U. 


likoly  to  hucc'<!(h1  them  aiv  riot  iKitter.  They  arc  (>(|ually  with- 
out the  eoii(i<h'n('e  of  the  eountry.  Tlie  |N>|)uhii*  parly  now  are 
the  Reforinei'rt — Hur(h>tt,  C'oblMftt,  Ae.  .  .  . 

Since  the  eir(!uit  waw  over  my  profeHsioiial  life  has  Ikvii  iiii- 
('hequereil  by  anything  remarkable — unless  |H>rha|)s  my  havinj;- 
a  Oiisv)  containing  seventeen  <|uerieM  uj)on  the  construction  of  ti 
will,  with  an  cij^ht-guinea  t'w,  may  i)e  considered  wortliy  of  that 
epithet.  About  a  fortnight  ago  I  published  the  third  nuinl)er 
of  my  Reimrts,  which  concludes  the  tirst  volinne.  The  sale  and 
reputation  of  the  work  continue,  but  I  am  rather  disappointwl 
at  finding  it  of  so  very  little  use  to  me  in  my  business.  The 
poor  Nisi  Prius  reporter  tuudatnr  d  adjct! 

.  .  .  You  think  me  mther  fantiistical  aliout  twovnt,  but  to  nie 
it  really  is  a  most  grave  and  serious  consideration.  I  would  sur- 
render a  (.ionsiderable  |)ortion  of  my  I(>gal  aciiuirements  to  have 
a  pure  English  at!cent.  Tljerc  are  far  higher  <!onsiderations  in 
life  tlian  cloinition,  and  therefore  I  do  not  strictly  avoid  all 
society  where  mine  must  sutler;  but  1  would  muiJi  s(M)ner  visit 
a  house  where  the  wine  is  bad  than  where  the  iliidect  is  bad. 
Your  saying  that  you  scaniely  distinguish  a  Scotchman  from  an 
Englishman  astonishes  me  not  a  little.  I  would  at  any  time  lis- 
ten to  the  sharpening  of  a  saw  or  the  tn-caking  of  a  hinge  in 
prcic-renee  to  my  native  dialect;  and  unles.H  it  is  substantially 
subductl  I  would  rather  have  it  uwjj  than  adulteniteil  by  an  ad- 
mixture of  uncouth  English.  As  you  spoke  with  considerable 
propriety  before  leaving  this  country,  I  hope  to  find  you  a  model 
on  your  return.  But  if  I  once  more  liejird  the  sound  of  your 
voice  I  should  scarcely  pause  to  analyze  it  into  its  (W)mponent 
parte  of  Scotch  and  English. 


'  Teiiiplo,  June  11,  1809. 

My  dear  Father: —  .  .  .  Yestenlay  I  dinal  with  Jeemy 
Park.  Before  dinner  he  took  me  aside  and  sjiid  with  some 
solemnity,  *I  have  something  to  communicate  to  you  which  1 
trust  will  give  you  pleasure.  On  Friday  (Graud-tlay),  when  the 
Chancellor  was  dining  with  us  in  the  Hall,  I  pointed  you  out  to , 


1809.] 


HIXTH   UIUCUIT. 


243 


him,  and  UHkod  liini  ii'  lu^  wus  acquaintinl  with  you.  His  lord- 
ship Huid  "No;  hut  he  in  n  very  aerunble  and  dewier  man,  and  I  like 
his  ReporU  much"  This  you  know  mn  do  you  no  harm.'  I 
certainly  di<l  ol)wervc  Eldon  l(M>kinj5  at  me  very  earnestly  during 
dinner;  but  an  to  the  good  it  will  ever  do  me,  I  am  ready  to 
barter  it  for  a  hult-guiueu  motion.  At  the  Mime  time,  m  from 
his  not  answering  my  note  I  wiw  afraid  he  diHap])rovcd  of  the 
publieation,  I  a.n  pleased  to  have  thin  uppreh(!nsion  removed. 


Toinplo,  AuguPt  16, 1809. 

My  deak  George  : —  ...  1  have  executed  your  commission 
about  Lindsay's  shawl.*  I  thought  it  Ixitter  to  tell  her  the  truth 
and  to  take  her  to  the  famous  shop  for  India  Hhawls,  and  let  her 
choose  one  for  herself.  I  did  so  aciiordingly.  We  <;ould  not  get 
ii  handsome  one  under  thirty-three  guineas,  and  I  lK>ught  one  for 
her  ut  that  price.  She  was  much  pleased  with  it,  but  I  really 
believe  would  have  been  better  satJHfijHl  with  .something  of  much 
less  value  sent  home  to  her  directly  by  youi-self.  However,  she 
could  not  help  exclaiming,  *Who  would  have  thought  that  I 
should  live  to  have  such  a  shawl  aa  this!'  .  .  . 

On  the  circuit  which  is  just  over  I  had  little  luck,  but  was  not 
entirely  briefless.f  The  only  advantage  I  derive  from  answering 
cases  for  Marryat  is  that  he  sometimes  gives  me  briefs  to  hold  for 
him  at  sittings  which  break  me  in  a  little  to  the  impudence  of 
Nisi  Prius,  and  (what  is  of  some  const^quence  with  the  attorneys) 
hold  out  the  appearance  of  business.  I  am  a  grejit  brief-holder. 
Being  always  present  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  if  men  are 
tailed  away  they  put  their  briefs  into  my  hand,  conceiving  that 
they  may  rely  ujjon  my  attendance,  and  that  I  am  not  likely  to  rob 
them,  of  tlicir  clients.  From  the  bunch  of  papers  I  have  sometimes 
got  before  me,  a  stranger  might  suppose  I  was  making  jGlOOO  a 
year.    But  do  not  imagine  that  I  am  cjiUed  upon  for  a  display 

*Hia  sister  Lindsay  was  about  to  be  married  to  David  Johnston,  Esq.,  of 
Overton. — Ed. 
t  His  sixth  circuit. — Ed. 


-ii-fn  V 


|'T-:|-ti 


i  "i 


244  I.IPE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL.  [1809. 

of  eloquciioe.  The  province  of  tlie  jiuiior  barrister  seldom  ex- 
ceeds technically  stating  the  question  and  examining  a  witness. 
Murryat  says  he  knows  I  had  a  brief  of  my  own  at  the  lost 
sittings  from  an  attorney  being  pleased  with  the  manner  in 
which  I  had  exainineil  a  wituons  in  his  presence.  Certainly 
there  <!aMn()t  be  any  more  unlikely  source  of  bu.sinoss  to  me,  for 
when  I  am  exiunining  a  witncMH  1  am  frightened  out  of  my  wits 
lest  my  questions  should  be  objectionable.  However,  I  do  not 
now  despair  of  being  one  of  the  most  impudent  fellows  of  the 
age  in  which  I  live. 

Temple,  October  3, 1809. 

My  dear  Father  : — Behold  me  once  more  ii  |)l()(lding  special 
pleader.  On  Wednesday  last  I  laid  down  the  chat  atitcr  of  a  man 
of  pleasure  and  returned  to  my  pi'ison-housc.  Notwithstanding 
the  shocking  weather,  my  three  weeks  at  Brighton  passed  away 
very  agreeably.  I  bathed  every  morning,  fair  and  foul,  roujfh 
and  smooth.  The  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in  walking  on  the 
Steyne,  lounging  in  the  libraries,  reading  novels,  paying  visits, 
&c.  I  found  here  a  great  number  of  legal  friends,  from  whom 
I  received  much  civility.  I  dined  with  Serjeant  Runningtou, 
with  Serjeant  Best,  twice  with  Jemmy  Park,  &c.  The  company 
in  our  boarding-house,  though  respectable,  was  rather  stupid. 
As  to  my  health,  it  did  not  admit  of  much  improvement,  but 
my  complexion  has  become  clearer  and  more  ruddy,  and  I  am 
in  excellent  plight  for  beginning  a  new  campaign  in  Westminster 
Hall.  If  I  were  backed  by  the  attorneys  I  should  like  to  try 
whether  I  could  not  answer  a  thousand  cases  in  a  thousand  hours. 

I  supped  last  night  with  David  Fifcruiis.*  He  is  employed 
upon  a  piece  which  will  raise  his  reputation  as  an  artist  if  pos- 
sible higher  than  ever.f  He  is,  besides,  a  very  sensible  and 
excellent  young  man. 


*Wilkie. 

fThis  was  the  'Alehouse  Door,"  or,  as  he  afterwards  called  it,  'The  Village 
Festival,'  bought  in  1811  by  John  J.  Angerstein,  Esq.,  for  800  guineas.  See 
lAj'e  of  Wilkie,  vol.  i.  p.  256.— Ed. 


1810.] 


INCRRAHF.  OP   BimiNI»«. 


246 


Tcmplo,  October  27. 1809. 

My  DKAii  Father  : —  ...  Fees  come  ia  as  well  I  could 
reasonably  ex[M>(;t  at  this  Hcason.  I  have  dmwn  several  declara- 
tions for  the  enduing  term,  and  anHwcrud  two  or  three  cases. 
The  only  thing  in  which  I  have  l)ccn  engaged  worth  mentioning 
particularly  was  executing  a  commiHsiun  of  lunacy.  Commis- 
gioners  were  appointed  and  a  jury  asHemhled  to  try  whether  one 
W.  Plowman  was  a  lunatic  or  not.  i  attended  as  counsel  in 
support  of  the  affirmative,  \vhi(rh  I  eatul)li«he<.l  very  satisfactorily. 
My  best  witness  was  Master  Plowman  himself,  who  insisted  that 
he  was  Duke  of  Monmouth.  It  l)eing  sug;.;csted  that  the  Duke 
of  ISIonmouth  was  beheadwl,  he  said  the  jierson  who  suffered 
death  was  only  a  representative  of  the  real  Duke,  whom  we 
beheld  before  us.  I  got  a  verdict  of  non  comp.,  and  afterwards 
un  excellent  dinner  with  the  (H)mmissioncrs  and  jury  at  the  poor 
lunatic's  cximjosc.     Fee,  three  guineas. 

The  town  l)cgins  to  fill,  and  I  mean  to  indulge  in  some  gaiety 
lii'fore  the  term  shuts  me  up.  To-day  I  dine  with  Sugden,  the 
-1  cat  conveyancer,*  to-morrow  with  tho  Beeswing  Club,  on  Sun- 
day with  Tod,  and  on  Monday  I  eat  turtle  in  Russell  Square 
with  Marryat ! 

Temple,  January  8,  1810. 

My  Dkau  Father: —  ...  Do  not  let  your  cheerfulness  at 
this  season  Ix^  at  all  damped  by  an^  apprehensions  that  I  am  in 
a  contrary  fnmie  of  mind.  I  assure  you  I  have  found  this  the 
merriest  Christmas  I  have  passed  since;  I  loft  Scotland.  1  have 
had  a  great  immbor  of  invitations  to  dinners,  <fec.,  and  the  time 
I  have  pa.s,scd  in  jirivato  has  glided  away  most  agreeably.  It 
took  me  two  or  three  days  after  the  sittings  were  over  to  bring 
up  ihe  arrears  of  my  Reports.  Since  then  I  have  chiefly  devoted 
myself  to  novel-reading.  I  am  happy  to  find  that  my  zest  for 
romantic  adventures  is  not  destroyed  by  my  familiarity  with  lef/a^ 
fictions.  You  may  (conceive  that  term  and  sittings  are  a  pretty 
good  prepai-ation  for  an  interesting  love  story,  or  a  humorous 


'Afterwards  Lord  St.  Leonards. 


M6 


LIFE  OF  liORD  CAMPnULI.. 


[1810. 


t 


dotinontion  of  ritlimiloiiM  inuiincra.  I  have  liiul  two  thwc  deli- 
cious morningH  with  MIhh  Ktlgcworth,  nnd  I  nlmiKloiutl  inyMilt' 
t»i  her  m  entirely  that  if  u  kiUK'k  came  to  the  (i<M>r  I  wum  ufrtyd 
it  might  l)e  nii  attorney  with  a  com'.  My  prcM^nt  notion  of  |ic>r- 
fect  htippineHH  in  shutting  myiM>lf  up  in  a  library  fuininhed  with 
all  the  roinanccH  and  novels  in  all  ilu  lai  ^uagoH,  and  liidding  un 
eternal  adieu  to  briefs  and  WeHtntinHter  Mall.  But  a  sailor  will 
tire  of  veget4il)le  diet  after  the  htngent  voyage,  and  in  'eight  dayH 
of  St.  Hilary'  I  nhall  have  no  objtH^tion  I  dare  my  to  receive  a 
few  half-guineiu4  to  op|M>H(;  or  justify  bail. 

You  are  diKsatiHHe<l  that  I  gave  you  no  aneedotes  of  Miehacl- 
mas  term ;  but  I  really  wan  niixMl  in  nothing  which  could  at  all 
interest  you.  The  cause  in  which  I  was  with  Jekyll  was  an 
action  against  a  master  butcher,  whose  servants  had  driven 
through  the  street  of  Ijondon  a  mad  and  vicious  ox  which  tossed 
and  gored  the  plaintiff.  We  fully  proved  tin*  viciousncss  of  the 
animal  and  the  injury  h(;  had  done  to  our  client,  but  we  could 
nut  show  that  the  def(?ndant  knnv  his  vicious  <!haracter.  This 
objection  was  not  to  In;  got  over.  I  forget  what  answer  my  leader 
attempteil  when  it  was  ma<Ie.  lie  is  by  no  means  so  remarkable 
for  legal  discrimination  as  for  his  refined  humor.  On  these  occa- 
sions it  is  not  usual  for  any  but  the  leading  counsel  to  speak. 
However,  I  asked  j)ermission  of  his  lordship  to  say  a  few  wcjrds, 
and  contended  that  the  knowledge  of  the  servants  was  the 
knowledge  of  the  master,  and  that  he  wa>*  answerable  for  the 
consequences  of  their  driving,  however  cautiously,  a  bullock 
through  the  streets  of  the  metropolis  which  evidently  endangered 
the  lives  of  his  Majesty's  subjects.  Ellenborough  said,  *  You 
have  not  so  laid  it  in  your  declaration,'  and  inhumanly  non- 
suited us. 

I. was  luckier  in  a  case  in  the  Common  Pleas.  In  this  I  had 
myself  drawn  the  declaration  and  replication,  and  written  an 
opinion  upon  the  evidence  necessary  to  support  the  action.  You 
see  what  responsibility  I  had  incurred.  Two  days  before  the 
trial  I  discovered  that  I  had  overlooked  a  paper  which  in  strict- 
ness we  were  bound  to  produce,  and  which  was  then  in  a  distant 


1810. 


8TKADY  ATTENDANCE  AT  COURT. 


247 


ri'ceive  a 


^Htrt  of  Riij^luiul.  Wu  thought  of  wWubawiny  the  record  or 
poHtiHiiiin^  the  trial ;  but  u|H)n  connulcration  we  found  that  the 
cxi)ciiHti  of  this  wouM  Ih.>  nearly  an  great  an  of  lofting  the  cause. 
Wo  thcix'forij  rt'Holvcd  to  take  our  c'huu(!i>.  The  oniitMion  wan 
not  ol)Herv(>(l,  and  we  ol)talne<t  a  verdict.  An  attorney,  you  know, 
judgeH  always  by  the  event.  Hcrjeant  B«>Ht  wan  on  the  other  Hide; 
and  after  a  very  warm  panegyric  u|M)n  the  reporter,  cited  a  exuje 
againHt  uh  out  of  'Canipbell,H  RcportM.'  Sir  tTaincM  MauHfield 
Miid  th(!  ease  wan  ^(mmI  law,  hut  not  in  point.  Now  rcinenilRT 
that  thcM!  childiMh  details  are  not  to  lie  imputed  to  me.  I  am 
sure  they  muHt  apiM)ur  (ihildish  to  every  human  l)cing. 

I  am  afraid  you  may  l)e  disappointed  that  I  am  never  taken  int^) 
any  popular  ciuis(«,  and  that  my  name  never  appeara  in  the  newti- 
pupern.  I  am  sorry  that  I  <!onfer  no  fcfat  upon  the  family,  but 
really  T  ("juinot  help  it.  I  may  come  forwaitl  by  slow  degrees ; 
and  if  I  get  bread  and  cheese  in  the  meantime,  |K>rhai)S  you  should 
be  sjitisfiiKl  iw  well  as  myself.  From  my  steady  attendance  at 
court  an<l  in  chamlKn's  I  am  considere*!  by  a  (icrtain  set  of  my 
acquaintance  m  a  phfhhr,  and  only  fit  for  professional  drudgery. 
Now  altlu)Ugh  I  have  resolutely  submitted  to  drudgery  08  my 
only  chance  of  success  in  my  profession  and  my  only  road  to 
elevation,  I  concei\'e  there  are  not  many  to  whose  dispositions  it 
is  less  congenial.  Shall  I  ever  be  able  to  show  that  I  make  my- 
self a  slave  for  the  sake  of  power  and  distinction  ?  But  I  will 
talk  no  more  of  myself — happy  if  I  had  recollected  sooner  that 
no  man  can  do  so  without  rendering  himself  rediculous. 


348 


LirK  or  umi>  cami'hki.i,. 


Ltsio. 


CHAPTKIt  IX. 

Maroh,  INIO— DroKMRrK,  IHIl. 

ChaugcD  to  Oxfopl  Circuit— S«ri«'unt  Williamii  — Daunooy — .lurvin— Abbott- 
Puller— Oldnall  KuHHoll— Clitror.l— CharloH  l'billi|ii«— Sir  Krancm  Uunlott 
—Hir  Samuel  IlDinilly  —  IIim  KnouilH  Tuin'rcii  ami  Coltiiiari— UloucuMtor- 
ihiro  S«iiiion«— HrnnKD  BiithurHi  — linllnw  ivixl  Tinmton— Trial  of  ('olj 
bolt— Summnr  Cinuit— Tiiknn  ("lii*ml)nr«  in  riip"r  HuiMirixfi— i'liyn  a 
Vinit  to  hid  Kalhur — Huhcokm  at  tlio  (tloiicurttiirNlunt  ytmHioim  — Kiourtiion 
to  Cambridgu  with  Coltirian— UrouKbaiiiN  DoI'oiko  of  tli't  HuiitM— Car- 
ttaim'  CauHo— IncroaiiinK  HuNirit'iiH  in  Kin^'n  Berxh  and  on  th«  Circuit. 


Woicu«t«r,  March  11,  1810. 

My  DKAii  Fatiiku: — Have  yoii  ovor  hn<l  iiriy  tireatn  or  met 
with  any  omen  which  (orvtold  th:it  a  son  of  yoiii'H  Hhouid  Ix;  hnulcr 
of  the  Oxford  t'irciiit?  The  evout  Ixiinj?  t^crlain,  yon  |K'rhu|).s 
may  have  had  a  ^liiupMi  of  it— pyon  may  have  Heen  itM  »lnidow 
as  it  ap))i'oa(;hi>ii«.  Now  do  not  Ik;  angry,  do  not  he  disturlM'd. 
I  have  taken  a  hold  Hte|) — not  a  rawh  one.  The  rewuit  to  Ix;  sure, 
is  donhtful ;  hut  if  a('<|iiainted  with  all  the  fuetH  on  whieh  my 
judgment  wan  fornieil,  1  think  you  yourself  would  have  (iounHolitHl 
what  I  have  done.  You  will  ejinily  perc»'iv(^  that  it  wa.s  impos- 
sible to  ask  your  advice,  and  now  I  must  recjuest  you  to  place  u 
gcnerou.s  conKdenct;  in  me,  and  to  approve  of  die  line  of  conduct 
I  liave  pursued,  from  the  persuu.<i()n  that  I  was  not  likely  to 
do  anything  to  bring  ruin  on  my.self  and  discredit  on  my  family. 
I  could  not  explain  to  you  in  many  letters  the  various  considera- 
tions that  entered  into  my  determination,  or  detiiil  to  you  the  argu- 
ments pro  and  con.  I  nuisl,  therefore  simply  say  that  I  saw  no 
prospeiit  of  success  on  the  Home  Circuit,  and  that  I  conceive  I 
have  a  better  cIkumjc  here.*  The  Oxford  has  not  been  strong  in 
counsel  for  several  years  past,  and  a  most  exti'aordinary  opening 


*  He  had  been  for  three  years  on  the  Home  Circuit. — Ed. 


1810.] 


('IIANO»»  Tl)  THE  OXFORD  CmCUIT. 


240 


liatt  taki'it  pItuH!  upon  it  Hiiurt!  IJio  liiMt  luwi/cfi,  Stti'j<>uiit  WilliuiiM 
U  m  ill  that  it  in  douhtful  wliothta'  ho  will  ever  Im>  iiI)Il>  to  lt>uvu 
liOiidoii  a^uiii ;  8t>rji>aiit  Matilcy  Iiiin  Imtii  a|i|M)iiiti'<l  a  (.'ointuiN- 
ciuiivr  of'  Kx(>im>;  Lord,  now  Owen,  liiis  Imtii  Ivt't  an  f>*tat(>  of 
X2U,()U()  a  year;  Hall,  wNo  i-iH'civttl  X7(),()(H)  ditwii  widi  liiH 
wii«!,  vxjM'ctM  every  hour  to  come  into  the  iMWHexsion  of*  (ive 

tiiueM  iw  nmeh  l>y  the  death  of  Imh  I'ather-in-law  ;  had  u 

verdiet  against  him  in  a  en'm.  con.  eaune  tor  XH()<K)  and  Uw  Hed 
the  country  ;  and  Wigley,  (atigu<«l  l>y  reeeivinji;  half'-jruineaM,  i.s 
ulNtiit  to  retire  to  hiM  |>atvrnal  extate  of  jCdOOO  a  year  in  Wor<VH- 
forwhire.  Few  forniidaWlo  men  are  left.  Of  the  twoHilk  gowuH, 
Duuncey  liaH  nothing  to  ivcomniend  him  hut  a  little  low  huf- 
fooneiy,  and  JerviH  nothing  hut  Ining  nephew  to  liord  St.  Vin- 
cent, Abhott,"*  a  very  able  man  in  the  junior  rankH,  is  likt^ly 
soon  to  Im^  nmde  a  judge.  Then  eonics  I'tdler,  who  is  a  favorite 
and  riscH  rapidly  ;  hut  after  him  you  have  scan-ely  anything  hut 
cluK<«ical  Hcliolars  and  men  of  fashion.  You  will  not  suppose  for 
a  moment  that  this  state  of  things  is  of  any  immediate  eonse- 
tiuence  to  me,  or  that  it  is  possible  for  mu  at  om«  tu  dash  into 
Imsiness;  but  you  will  perceive  that  patience  and  perseverance 
must  have  a  far  Ijctter  ciiance  of  success  on  such  a  stage  thitu 
iigftinst  comjietitoi's  like  Garrow,  Shepherd,  Jiest,  Marryat,  <fcc. 

Yt)U  nuiy  perhaps  be  frightened  by  the  expcnst(  which  I  nuist 
now  incur.  Although  this  will  Ik;  considerable,  yet,  unU*ss  my 
hiisiiiess  in  town  takes  an  unfavorable  turn,  I  can  easily  support 
it.  Between  the  Ist  of  January  and  thv  8th  of  !March  I  made 
l»y  fws  alone,  without  any  extraordiiiiry  piece  of  go(Kl  luck, 
upwards  of  o)ic  humb'ed  (fuumiH  !  Can  I  do  better  than  to  turn 
my  past  (M)n(piests  into  the  means  of  future  aggrandisement?  A 
iM'iiutiful  parallel  will  be  drawn  by  the  distant  historian  between 
the  military  and  legal  hero  of  the  present  age. 

Leaving  anticipations  for  facts,  1  have  to  inform  you  that  I 
arrived  yesterday  in  the  renowned  city  of  Worcester,  so  fatjd  to 
uiy  countryn\en.  The  circuit  began  on  the  oth  at  Reading,  in 
Berks,  and  on  the  8th  moved  to  Oxford,  but  there  is  little  busi- 

*  Afterwards  Lord  Tpntonlcn. 


250 


LirK  or   I^ORD  CAMPBKLL. 


[IfllO. 


iiitw  ut  I'illifr  of  (licH(>  pliufM,  atui  iwt  they  iiiicrt'cr*'  with  tin*  l<i>n> 
tloii  MittiiiK<4  I  hIiuII  iH'Vcr  viitit  llifiii,  On  WctliitiMliiy  \\v  f^tt  in 
(}|oii«i>Hii>r,  iVoiii  th(>iin>  til  Moiiiiioiitli,  llfrfliinl,  ShrrwHlmry, 
HUiHonl.  Oil  my  ii'tiirn  to  li«iiuloii  you  hIiiiII  liavo  a  tuitiil'ul 
ilv.UiW  of  my  tmvclM  uimI  tulvciitiin-H.  At  |ii'fN4>iit  my  idvoN  arc 
ill  u  coiiiiiU'tc  wliit'l,  and  I  iiiiiMt  t\y  to  thii  Hop  l*olu  iuu,  where 
1  am  to  miH't  my  new  m«'rMiiial«'H.  .  .  . 

I'.S.  Tutmltijf,  Mni'vh  /./. — In  high  HpiritM.  Tht?  iiumI*-  of 
doing  liii>4iiu>MHH  lifiv  iM  In>Io\v  what  my  iiioMt  Hanguin«>  iiniigiiiu- 
tioii  had  ('oiKvivitl.  i'«>i'f<>«*tly  wolt  r<HH!ivt<d  i)y  th«>  hat*.  Tht^ 
Oxford  cirt'uitfvrM  aru  uccuiiiiiliMhvd  guiitluiuvii,  hut  no  hiwyunn. 

Ilnrnroxl,  Mivnli  21.  |S|() 

My  I>F.au  Fatiiku: — lVrha|>M  you  may  f»'i'l  hoiim'  aiixi«ty  to 
know  how  I  pHM'tHHl  on  the  Oxford  oiiruit.  You  may  coiitt'ivo 
that  I  miiHt  now  Ih'  altic  to  form  u  prtitty  a(*curat«'  jiid^riia'tit 
upon  tilt'  hU'P  I  liuv<  talvcii,  and,  to  Ir>  rrlicvcd  from  siim|n  iir<4>, 
you  may  wi.sli  to  Ih<  informt'd  wlit^tlutr  1  am  utterly  uii(hHi<>.  1 
huve  niudu  one  niiif/fv  ijuiiu'd  hUhv.  I  li'fL  Lonthin,  and  very  |m)8- 
tiihly  may  not  mali(>  anotlicr  Ix'fori.'  I  return  I  Hut  I  continue 
in  giHHl  s|)iritH,  am  ph'iLHcd  witli  my  proH|HM;tr4,  and  hy  no  niniim 
ri'pt'iit  till'  line  of  <'oiMliict  1  havf  pui-sucd.  Thin  ciiruit,  com- 
pared with  the  Homo,  and  I  hclii'vo  w  ith  every  other,  is  wonder- 
fully open.  If  I  do  not  HUix'eed  here  I  Hhotild  have  had  no 
fhaiiee  eirtewhere.  I  never  felt  more  Melf-eomplaeeney  than  at 
this  moment,  and  I  <lo  iii>t  say  so  from  falne  pride  or  u  desire  to 
eoneeal  mortified  presumption,  hut  seriously,  nineerely,  and  from 
!nA)ev  eonvietion.  Miieli  will  still  (h'pend  u|ion  luck  or  aiteideiit, 
but  I  believe  that  I  have  a  very  fair  chance  of  ultimate  sutfcss 
in  the  new  career  on  which  I  liave  enteretl ;  and  I  declare  to  you 
upon  my  honor  that  if  I  could  now  draw  buck  and  return  to  the 
Home  circuit  without  any  loss  of  cretlit  or  infraction  of  etiquette, 
I  should  eagerly  adhere  to  the  Oxford. 

Having  quieted  your  fears  upon  this  subject,  [  will  state  to 
you  in  a  few  words  the  course  of  my  travels.  On  the  ev('iiiii>j 
of  Fridav  the  flth   I   left   London  bv  tlu'  mail  for  Won-ester, 


1810.] 


TiiK  oxn>iii>  i.'iHcriT. 


301 


hitvili)<  |M-«'VM»iiHly  will  oil  III)  I'll  rk  li)  liitf  tiiiivy  i-«nu'Ii.  At 
ilii<<  |iliu'i>  wi'  i-i-iimiiii'(|  till  till*  Wnliii-wliiy.  The  rifit  oi'  tint  <tlr> 
i'liit  ruiiiiil  to  StalVnnl  in  (o  Ih)  |M>rtorim>(l  in  ii  |MMl-i'iiiiiM>.     Thin 

|I|in|i>  of  tmvt'llill^  llltK  IlltW  iNttlllll!  thd  IIM)f*t  IIMIIIIUMI,  uikI  im  not 

iiiiifli  iimn'  i'!i(|M'iiHivi<  tliiiii  Kiiitiu;  on  horM'tNti-k  or  in  a  n'nf,  Mr. 
('oo|M>r  iinil  I  M't  nir  tVoni  Worii-Htrr  al'tfr  hrnikliiMt,  iukI  \Hum- 
tuii  lliroii){li  'ri'wki'Hliury  whmi  niirliiil  (iloiin>.«trr.  Ili'i-i>  I  mot 
an  "III  aii|iiiiiiitanri>,  from  wlioin  I  rHi>ivii|  gmit  kintlin'MM — Dr. 
ilaniii,Mon  ol'  I'rofi'MMor  liiiroii  ol'  Si.  Aiulrrw'n.    Ili>  i^  mi'|||i'«|  nl 

(•Iniifi>i4li>r  iiM  a  |>hyHi«'ian,  irt  iinivi'iiHiilly  r<'H|M>('ti>(l,an<l  i»  ^lu itl- 

iii^  fxtrcnii'ly  well  in  liin  prot«<Hi4ion.  ili>  iiitrtMhiftil  ni«-  to  a  Mr. 
I''fiiilall,  at  wli«w4>  lioii.sr  I  ilincd  with  tlii>  InulfrM  of  thi!  rirciiit, 
anil  li«!  M^'tiM  <liH|M)H('<l  to  tnku  every  (»|i|)ortunity  of  liciVii'nilin^ 
nil'.  It  wiiH  in  lliiM  city  that  I  hiul  tlu;  honor  to  oppoH'  the  iliH- 
I'liar^ro  of  un  iiiNolvout  debtor  who  wtiM  in  ciiHttNly  for  X2  \x. ! 
I  have  Hointf  reaM>n  to  eoniplain  of  Ink!  Iiiek  in  not  having  hail 
hriffK  of  more  eon>4u<iU(>n<'u.  I  hail  a  proiniM>  or  proH|H;<'t  of  lami- 
iieH.-t  at  almoHt  every  pliu;*!  on  the  eireiiit,  lait  the  eaiiM»4  have  iiecn 
Mettled  or  (lelayitl,  and  Homuof  the  proiuiMeH  have  Imimi  forgotten. 
However,  I  know  l>y  t>x|ic'riuiKX)  how  little  relianee  in  to  l>e  placed 
u|Hm  the  expe(;tiitioiiH  of  thatwirt  which  are  lu^ld  out  to  one,  and 
I  feel  little  disappointment.  Tf  I  have  husineHH  my  neeond  or 
third  circuit  I  hIiiiII  Im>  hm  well  pleatw'd  that  I  had  none  the  lirsl. 
On  Monday  mornin^i;  we  Mtarteil  for  Monniouth.  A  view  of 
the  si'enery  on  the  hankn  of  the  Wye  is  worth  a  thouMiuul  liriefM. 
It  literally  exceeilrt  every thinjf  of  which  I  could  have  previou.sly 
foniied  any  conception.  At  Monmouth  I  met  with  u  piece  of 
attentioii  liy  which  I  wax,  if  poi^iMe,  still  mori'  gratified.  At 
Worcester  and  (•loiicester  I  iliiUHl  with  the  jud^;e.s  alon^  with  the 
rest  of  the  War,  as  u  matter  of  couive.  .\t  Monnututh  they  hwl 
n  j)ni'iUr  /ttiiii/  to  diiuier,  to  which  only  seven  were  invitisd,  viz., 
Jcrvis,  Dauncey,  Wijjlcy,  Abbott  (whom  I  have  mentioned  to 
yoii  iM'fore),  Moysey  (son  of  the  Welsh  Jud^e),  Primrose  (son  of 
Lord  lloHelwrry),  and  CamplK>ll  (son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Campbell 
of  (Jupar).  Both  Lawrence  uud  W^ood  treated  me  with  great 
diiitiuction. 


4']  'i\ 


262 


J.IPE  OF   lAJUD  CAMPBELL. 


[1810. 


I  arrivttl  at  this  city  yesterday  to  dinner.  Here  u  great  nura- 
Insr  of  causes  are  to  be  tried  from  Wales,  and  we  sliall  bo  detained 
till  Saturday  night.  We  then  move  to  Shrewsbury,  where  my 
only  chance  arises  from  an  attorney  at  Ludlow,  for  whom  I  have 
continued  to  answer  a  great  numlxn*  of  very  difficult  cases.  If 
lie  has  a  cause  at  the  assizes,  I  dare  siiy  he  will  think  of  me.  We 
get  into  Staffortl  on  Wetlnesday  the  28th.  A  curious  cause  stands 
for  trial  there,  in  which  I  drew  the  declaration  and  in  which  I 
am  promised  a  brief.  The  action  is  brought  on  a  bet  whether 
Bob  Booty  should  win  the  King's  plate  at  the  last  Lichfield  races, 
and  the  plaintitt''8  expenses  are  defrayed  by  the  Jockey  Club. 
But  I  never  allow  myself  to  count  upon  a  brief  till  it  is  actually 
delivered.  I  shall  return  from  Stafford  by  the  mail,  and  I  hope 
to  reach  Inner  Temple  Lane  by  Sunday,  April  1.  Let  me  find 
a  letter  lying  there  for  me  from  my  dear  father.  I  am  now 
among  stmngei's,  from  whom  I  experience  great  j)olitene8s,  but 
from  whom  I  ain  expect  little  friendship.  Let  me  l)e  greeted  on 
my  return  by  the  breathings  of  genuine  affection.  I  fear  I  cjin 
sctu'(!ely  hope  from  a  letter  from  George,  but  the  regular  fleet 
must  soon  be  in,  and  then  I  trust  we  shall  be  refreshed  by  full 
accounts  of  his  health  and  prosperity.  My  love  to  all  around 
the  fireside.  I  still  indulge  in  the  hope  of  shaking  you  all  by 
the  hand  in  the  course  of  the  present  year.  My  change  of  cir- 
cuit will  not  at  all  interfere  with  this  excursion.  God  bless  my 
dear  father  and  sisters. 

Ever  most  affectionately  youra, 
J.  Campbell. 


Temple,  November  16, 1810. 

My  dear  Father  : — 1  a  -^turnal  to  town  on  Saturday,  and 
found  upon  my  table  your  letter  of  March  26,  which  wjis  next 
thing  to  being  embraced  by  you  and  my  sisters,  and  dissipated 
much  of  the  gloom  Ihat  would  otherwise  have  overhung  my 
solitary  chambers.  .  .  . 

You  demand  the  conclusion  of  my  circuit  adventures,  but  I 


1810.] 


THE  OXFORD  CIRCUIT. 


2r).'J 


have  nothing  of  much  importance  to  relate  to  you.  The  whole 
went  off  very  ugrc<!ably,  and  I  now  return  to  Ijon<lon  in  high 
spirits,  and  with  the  moat  flattering  anticipations.  My  Ludlow 
fricndH  had  no  canst!  at  Salop,  so  that  T  had  there  only  to  admire 
the  beautiful  wundi'i-ings  of  the  Sev(!rii  and  the  grandeur  of  ^the 
Welsh  mountains  in  the  distance. 

At  Stafford  T  Imd  two  huikfs!  1 !  One  wj-t  in  an  und<!fended 
iictiuM  from  Macclesfield  in  Cheshire,  the  other  in  the  action  T 
mentioned  to  you  on  th&  horse-race.  Boh  Booty  won  a  second 
time.  I  would  not  have  lost  the  verdict  for  jE20.  Dauncey  led, 
hut  I  had  prepared  the  pleadings  and  advised  on  the  evidence, 
and  had  I  been  distanced,  it  woidd  have  boded  ill  to  my  success 
on  the  Oxford  course.  Jervis  was  on  the  opposite  side,  and 
rested  his  defence  on  the  fact  that  both  parties  had  agreed  to 
<'ancel  the  bet.  This  he  was  to  prove  by  a  witness  of  the  name 
of  Hope ;  but  Mr.  Ho[)e,  being  thrice  called,  did  not  appear. 
Dauncoy  jeered  them  by  rcipeating  the  line  'Hope  told  a  flatter- 
ing tale.'  I  exclaimed  they  were  in  the  state  of  the  fallen  angels, 
*  Where  Hope  ne'er  comes  that  comes  to  all.'  Lawrcn(;e  told  the 
jury  the  defendant  had  laid  a  foolish  bet,  and  that  he  nmst  pay 
for  his  folly.  Bob  Booty's  case  was  over  between  nine  and  ten 
on  Friday  morning,  and,  the  briefs  being  all  delivered,  I  resolved 
to  make  the  best  of  my  way  to  London.  My  plan  was  to  go  in 
a  chaise  to  AVolverhainptou,  and  there  to  get  into  a  coach ;  but 
there  was  no  chaise  to  be  had  at  Stafford,  and  I  waa  forced  to 
leave  my  (jlerk  behind  in  cai*e  of  the  luggage,  and  to  set  off  on 
toot.  The  distance  is  .sixteen  miles,  which  I  performed  in  less 
than  four  hours — nothing  to  boast  of,  but  at  the  same  time  an 
argument  of  my  being  in  tolerably  fair  wind.  At  Wolver- 
hami)ton  I  found  the  London  coach  ready  to  start ;  and,  passing 
through  Birmingham,  Stratford-upon-Avon,  and  Oxford,  I 
reached  the  Temple  next  day  about  two  o'clock.  Mr.  Coopei* 
made  his  ap})earan(!e  with  the  blue  bag,  &c.,  late  last  night. 
Thus  ends  the  fii"st  sally  of  the  Knight  Campbello  and  his 
Squire  Clei'ko ! 

I  can  easily  perceive  you  are  convinced  I  have  done  a  very 


1    -  n 


1 1 


.n 


:4  r  II 


254 


I.II'K    (H-    LORD   <'AM1'1JKIJ,. 


[ISIO. 


toolish  tliiii"^,  and  ilm<  it  roqairo.s  a  coiiHulcrablo  exertion  of 
magnanimity  to  dinguiso  your  ehagrin. 

A  rollinj^Htono  is  evur  hiiro  ol'  iiionh, 

Aiicl,  to  thoir  cost,  (/I'l^dii  yoiii'H  ol'l  provi'ib»  ciush. 

However,  when  wc  meet  I  will  givi'  you  saw  for  «iw  and  ar';u- 
mcnt  for  argument,  and  I  make  no  (i(»ul)t  I  shall  still  have  your 
nttihabifion  of  the  step  I  have  taken.  The  rule  you  allude  to  is 
that  a  man  shall  not  ehange  his  eireuit  more  thau  once.  Once 
he  may,  at  least  before  he  is  established  in  business  or  is  of  long 
standing  at  the  bar.  You  may  bo  sure  the  first  thing  I  did  was 
to  a.seertain  this  point.  I  put  it  to  the  prineipal  men  in  West- 
minster Hall,  who  all  agreed  that  there  not  only  would  l)e  no 
irrcguhmtjj,  but  that  there  eould  be  no  indclicdcj/,  in  what  I  pro- 
posed. The  exiKiuse  may  be  re(!koned  about  double  the  Home — 
to  a  man  who  joins  at  Woreester  and  leaves  at  Staftbrd  bv  the 
mail,  something  more  than  £60  a  eireuit.  Tlie  chief  dilfereiice 
arises  from  the  eustom  of  e!U"rying  a  servant  on  the  Oxford,  and 
having  an  entire  post-ehaise  for  him  and  yourself.  On  the 
Home  the  juniors  travel  three  in  a  post-ehaise,  and  carry  no 
servant  at  all.  Its  <'heapness  and  its  (  )nveuience  for  family 
men  render  it  so  crowded.  The  rdditional  expense  of  the  otiier 
is  no  object  to  me,  and  there  is  no  one  to  care  for  me  in  London 
when  I  am  away.  Therefore  the  Home  offers  me  no  coiupenxa- 
tion  for  its  diminished  chance  of  business.  1  am  right,  and 
there's  an  end  on't.  The  change  will  not  intcrfei'c,  at-  ' 
appreliciid,  with  the  connections  I  have  already  formed.  >  do 
not  expect  to  make  so  much  tlirough  the  year  as  in  January  and 
February  ;  but  there  was  no  fee  that  I  received  during  these 
months  connected  with  the  ciniuit ;  and  when  term  comes  round 
I  shall  soon  supply  the  drain  occasioned  by  my  late  excursion. 

Unfortunately  (with  another  view)  Easter  term  is  this  year  as 
late  as  it  can  ever  by  any  pos.^il»i]ity  be,  as  it  does  not  begin  till 
the  9tli  of  May.  Trinity  is  thrown  back  in  prop(»rtion,  and  the 
circuits  will  not  be  over  till  the  beginning  of  September.  I 
must  thus  give  you  a  call,  rather  than  pay  you  a  visit.     A  fort- 


1810.] 


f,KAI)i;RS  OF  THE  OXPOUD  CIIICUIT. 


256 


night  will  be  tlu'  utmost  Hin't  of  tlie  time  T  <'an  s[m.'h<1  in  Cupar. 
I  shall  travel  down  in  three  days  and  return  in  four,  and  thus 
iHjnipleto  my  un<lcrtaking  in  tliree  weeks.  The  Michaelmas 
Quarter  Sessions  l)ogiii  on  the  1st  of  October,  and  I  might  just 
as  well  give  up  the  profession  as  stay  away  from  them.  But 
though  I  feel  <'ruelly  the  shortness  of  th(!  time  I  can  be  with 
you,  I  look  f(»rwar<l  to  our  meeting  with  unspeakable  pleasure; 
and  I  think  it  is  much  better  to  Ixi  (content  with  it  than  to  put 
off  the  journey  to  the  dreary  distance  of  another  year. 

[In  the  Autobiography  he  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
Oxford  Circuit. — Ed.]  : 


|r''>  ■Mr''! 


In  going  circuit  and  sessions  I  had  to  travel  through  the  most 
lu-autiful  ])art  of  England — Shropshire,  Herefordshire,  Mon- 
mouthshire, and  Gloucestershire — which  combine  richness  of 
cultivation  and  picturesque  scenery  beyond  any  region  I  have 
ever  visited.  So  it  seems  to  have  struck  Gray,  the  poet,  who 
had  travelled  over  the  finest  part  of  Europe;  and  in  one  of  his 
letters  to  Warton  talks  of  '  the  succession  of  nameless  beauties 
to  he  seen  on  the  banks  of  the  Wye,'  and  sjiys  of  Monmouth, 
'  it  lies  in  a  vale  that  is  tlie  delight  of  my  eyes  and  the  very  seat 
of  pleasure.'  Every  sunuiier  circuit  we  had  a  grand  water  party, 
sailing  down  the  Wye  from  Ross  to  Monmouth.  We  lived 
togetlier  very  amicably,  notwithstanding  a  few  jealousies  and 
rumors  of  huggery.*  At  Monmouth  a  grand  court  was  always 
lield  for  the  mock  trial  of  oftbnces  committed  by  the  bar.  1  had 
the  honor  t(t  rill  the  office  of  crier,  and  I  opened  the  court  with 
great  solemnity,  holding  a  fire-sliovel  in  my  hand  as  an  emblem 
of  authority.  Sometimes  cases  were  seriously  brought  before 
the  bar  as  to  the  right  of  barristers  to  join  the  circuit  or  attond 
particular  sessions,  or  the  indirect  practices  resorted  to  for  getting 
into  business.     These  brought  (»n  very  painful  discussions,  but 


"ill  "'I 
4 


...(Hi 

ill  I 


*I.  e.  hugging  attorneys,  i.  e.  being  too  civil  to  them.i.  e.  improperly  trying 
to  get  business. 


hf 


Jti 


iiil 


*256 


f.iFK  OF  [,nitn  cAMPnKi.r,. 


[1810 


woi<<  iioccsHiirv  for  the  dignity  of  our  onlcr,  iiiul  coiisiMnictitlv 
for  tlic  siUisfiiclory  ii<liniiiis(r:iti(iii  of  justice. 

Tlif  iiiiiii  of  iii>;licst  rank  iipun  tlic  cirniit  was  NVilliains,  n 
Kiiij^'s  Scrjraiit,  the  idilnr  of  '  SiniiHlcrs.'  Allhougli  u  vcrv 
1(>ariu>(l  tnan,  he  was  a  poor  a<lvocat(',  and  wa.>i  never  cuiploycd 
cxeept  in  (Ir'nixjfihhr.'  cai-cs  deiu'nding  on  (lie  law  of  real  prop- 
<*rty.  In  one  of  these  a  (piestion  arose  respecting  IJie  operation 
of  a  rcronri/,  and  the  serjeant  laid  down  a  position  wliicli  Mr. 
Justice  Lawrence,  a  most  learned  ,ii(lj;e,  donhted  ;  lait  iiistciidol' 
rcasonintf  or  <'i(in}.j  cases  to  support  it,  the  learned  serjeant  only 
HJiid,  '  I  assure  you,  my  lord  it  is  so — upon  my  honor  it,  is  so;' 
uml  Lawrence  yielded  to  the  authority. 

The  *  cock  of  the  walk'  was  Dainicey.  lie  had  no  law,  Itnt 
infinite  drollery  and  a  considerable  share  of  natural  shrewd- 
ness. .Mr.  .Iu.-.tice  Lawreiici  uself  a  f-reat  lawyer,  eaiiic  tln' 
4'ireuil  continually  for  many  years  to;;ether ;  and  it  was  said  tliiit 
Dainiccy  induced  him  always  to  ridi^  in  his  favor  by  makinj>-  him 
laujih.  With  Mr.  Justice  Le  HIanc,  who  occasionally  came, 
Daunccy  did  nut  succeed  so  well.  He  com[>lained  that  (his  jiidi^c, 
always  suspcctinjj,'  an  attempt  to  take  him  in,  out  of  I'cvennd 
nodded  diirin;i'  the  ;ir<.ninient  as  if  convinced,  and  then  decided 
smack  a<i;ainst  I  he  man  lie  had  (h'lnded. 

The  only  other  silk  LTown  on  the  circuit  was  Jervis,  a  very 
gentlemanly  man  in  his  manners,  and  very  lionorably  inclined, 
but  famous  for  ilnnriiif/  ti  /on;/  hoir.  The  stories  li<>  told  were, 
and  probably  slill  are  Uy  tradition,  a  source  of  amusement  to 
the  Oxford  circuit.  As  n  s|)ecimeu,  lie  said  'lie  kept  uj)  a  fl'ick 
of  above  1000  tiu'k- eys  at  his  ,  'ace  in  Kent,  which  ho  fatteiiod 
on  gras.>jhoppers ; '  and  that  'one  morning  he  there  .saw  twenty 
jays  sitting  on  a  tree,  and  was  going  to  fire  at  them,  when  oik; 
of  them  sai<l  "  (iood  morning  to  yon,  Mr.  Jervis ;  good  niorniiii;', 
Tom  Jervis;"  aii«l  he  allowed  them  all  to  fly  away  uidim-t.'  1 
ouce  mentioned  to  him  that  I  liad  been  reading  the  Iliad,  and 
that,  with  the  help  of  an  occasional  peep  at  the  Latin  transla- 
tion, I  could  construe  it  pretty  well.  He  said,  '  I  make  it  a 
rule  to  read  through  the  whole  of  Homer's  works  one  a  year.' 


1810.] 


LKADKRN  OI'  TIIK  OXFOIID  CIIICUIT. 


267 


He  had  ncvor  been  at  the  UiiiverHity,  and  did  not  know  u  word 
of  Greek.  Wo  proposed  thut  \m  c^pitiiph  should  be:  'Here 
ceiwcth  to  li<!  ThornuH  Jcirvis.'  Ncvcirtheless,  ho  ao  fur  retuinwl 
tiie  j^oodvvill  and  respect  of  tlie  oircuit,  that  when  he  left  it  u 
grand  dinner  was  given  to  hin),  and  he  wuH  lauded  for  poHscsH- 
ing  all  the  (jualities  of  a  great  lea<lor. 

Th(!  first  in  junior  husincHM  was  Abbott,  afterwards  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  Kngland.  II(>  wiis  tliiui  of  no  mark  or  likolibood,or  sup- 
pojied  to  be  capable  of  being  more  (ban  a  puisne  judge,  an 
appointment  to  wliicli  h(^  had  a  kind  of  prescriptive  (ilaim,  from 
having  been  long  'Chief  Devil  to  tlu;  Attorney-General,'  or 
'Counsel  to  the  Treasury,'  and  having  drawn  the  indicttnents 
for  high  treason  against  Hardy,  Tooke,  and  Thelwall.  He  was 
the  very  worst  hand  at  addressing  a  jury  I  ever  knew  to  attempt 
it.  lie  v,as  iully  aware  of  this  defcjct,  and  only  bazard(!(l  the 
effort  with  tli(!  gn^atest  reluctance  in  the  absence  of  his  lcad;'r,  or 
wlun,  all  th(!  silk  gowns  being  retaiiuHl  on  the  same  .side,  they 
were  forced  to  give  him  a  leading  brief  on  the  other.  I  remem- 
ber one  siuih  occasion,  on  the  trial  of  a  great  fjno  warranto  <!ause, 
when  h(!  had  spoken  near  two  hours  and  was  about  to  sic  down, 
a  barrister  present,  who  thought  be  was  all  the  time  in  his  usual 
vocation  of  junior  making  a  formal  statement  of  tluMpiestions  to 
be  tried  i)reparatory  to  i\\^  sjjeeeh  of  the  leader,  ex(!laimed  in  my 
ear,  'What  a  monstrou-i  time  Abbott  is  in  this  ease  in  oj)ening 
the  pleadings ! '  But  his  powers  expanded  as  he  was  elevated, 
and  he  became  oiu;  of  the  best  judges  who  ever  presided  in  the 
Court  of  King's  Bench,  not  only  laying  down  the  law  with  pre- 
cision and  accuracy,  but  enfoi-cing  bis  opinion  with  copiousness 
of  illustration  and  elegance  of  dic^tion. 

Then  came  Puller  and  Oldnall  Russell,  who,  without  superior 
powers  of  any  sort,  Mere  promoted  successively  to  the  office  of 
Chief  Justice  of  Calcutta,  where  they  both  found  an  early 
grave. 

Another  noted  stuff  gown  upon  the  circuit  was  Harry  Clifford, 
who  had  gained  high  celebrit;,  as  leader  of  the  O.  P.  riots  in 
Brnry  Lane.     He  was  a  great  republican,  but  very  vain  of  his 

VOL  I.  11* 


.  »  KfPi 


m 


•2fi8 


I.IFK  OF    LOlU)  CAMPnKLI,. 


[1810. 


(loHcoiit  fi'oiu  Hliick  C'lifronl  and  tlu;  iitK.'ioiit  Eurln  of  CunilMT- 
liind.  Uv  was  ii  Roiniin  (^itholic,  or  at  least  he  wiu*  lutt  u  Prot- 
••xtant,  and  IM-Iirvcd  nothing  wliicli  l*i'ot«>HtaiitM  Im-IIcvc,  '  iM'^innin^ 
liiH  lK'li(  r  wlino  they  dill'cr  from  the  (liiircli  of  Uomc'  IIo  \va« 
almoHt  cniistantiy  i;i  a  stato  of  iiiloxic-itioii.  lie  once  had  to  dc- 
fciul  ten  j)cr.soiis  who  wen*  to  Ih'  tried  scparnrcly  lor  forj^iii}^  Hank 
of  Kn«!;hnid  notes — an  oIUmi(!0  then  always  punished  with  d«'ath; 
and  r  heard  liini  move  that  nin(>  of  them  should  enter  into  a 
'(•onwtlidation  rule,'  whcrehy  their  I'ate  should  Ix;  determined  hy 
the  verdiet  on  the  prisoner  who  should  he  tried  the  first.  L? 
lilane,  the  judge,  said  drily,  *Mr.  Cliirord,  I  am  of  opinion  that 
the  consolidation  rul<!  does  not  extend  to  esises  of  ('chdiv.  Take 
nothing  hy  your  motion.'  He  wa.s  sometimes  employed  for  lihcl- 
lers  prosecuted  by  the  (^rown ;  and  tlu'U  \\v.  showed  the  finest 
talent  for  juridical  eliKpienee,  next  to  Ei-skine,  I  ever  heard  at 
the  bar.*  I  <lo  not  except  the  great  Irish  orator  Chnrles  Phil- 
lips, who  joined  the  Oxford  ('intuit  soon  after  me,  and  expected 
instiuitly  to  be  at  the  top  of  it.  His  fame  had  j>reeedcd  him, 
and  when  ho  wtw  first  to  make  a  splash  at  Worcester,  tlie  whole 
county  were  eager  to  hear  him.  n<>  was  a  ycvy  admirable 
spciikei' — clear,  earnest,  seemingly  sin(;er<>,  conciliating,  and  per- 
suasive. Nothing  could  have  prcvent(;<l  him  from  attaining  to 
great  eminence,  exce])t  a  luiad  which  not  oidy  was  not  a  'head 
for  law,'  but  into  which  no  law  could  Iw  cranuiicd,  und  which 
repelled  all  legal  definitions  and  distinctions. 


1  I 


■  _  '  Tomple,  April  10,  I.SIO. 

Mydear  Brotheu: —  .  .  .  The  dread  of  inviusion  has  en- 
tirely subsided  in  this  country.  We  look  for  a  landing  of  the 
Chinese  as  much  aa  of  the  French.  The  volunteer  corps  have 
dwindled  away  to  nothing.    I  myself  have  not  been  uiid(;r  arms 


*  IIo  galno'l  Ills  ohiof  celebrity  in  a  rnntoFt  with  Lon.l  Kony:)n,  wlio  imlis- 
creetly  taunted  him  as  a  descendant  of  Clifford  of  the  cabal  and  gave  him 
a  fair  opportunity  of  alluding  to  the  time  when  the  Lord  Chief  .lu?tice  had 
educated  himself  by  carrying  a  blue  bag  as  an  attorney's  r]i'<V,  Habitual 
intemperance  brought  poor  Clifford  to  an  early  grave 


1801.] 


DUKAD  OF   INVASION   HI'KSIiil'X 


269 


them;  loiii'  yeura.  You  will  bo  iufiniUly  uimiHctl  hy  the  dotnils 
of  Hoiui|>urto'H  inun'ia};u  with  the  Aivh<iii(li('HH  Mmiu  lioiiittu. 
It  rLMidia'H  hitn  far  inoru  foriniduhlo  to  tlui  HourtioiiM,  but  not  to 
foreign  iiatiouH.  lit;  ha.s  coiiMorulattil  his  power,  Init  hu  will  with 
tlilKcfuIly  extend  the  limits  of  liisem[»ire.  f  eannot  coneeive  the 
French  arniicH  fi<^htiiij;  with  tlic;  same  fury  after  tho  fooleries 
that  liav*.'  been  taking  plaee  in  l*aris.  I  have  now  fairer  hopes 
for  tho  world  than  I  have  for  long  ventured  to  indulge.  .  .  . 

I  do  not  at  all  wonder  at  your  military  arilor.  Even  I  have 
occasionally  experienced  the  sanu!  feelings.  Nothing  tends  so 
much  to  reconcile  one  to  tlu!  dull  drudgery  of  civil  life  as  to  weo 
what  miserable  animals  your  fighting  men  usually  are.  The  |)er- 
fcction  (if  tho  huntan  charact<.'r  is  formed  by  a  mixtiu'e  of  civil 
and  military  employments.  This  the  constitution  of  motlern 
States  sear(!cly  ever  pernuts.  A  m(!rc  sol<lier,  uidess  hu  has  had 
some  illustrious  opportiniity  to  distinguish  himself,  is  not>  much 
to  be  envied  or  admired.  In  this  country  the  army  is  tho  very 
worst  of  all  professions,  and  I  never  can  regret  thsit  neither  of  us 
entered  it.  Whether  we  consider  the  lot  of  mankind  in  general, 
or  the  fate  of  those  born  in  the  same;  rank  of  lite  with  oiu'selves, 
wo  have  no  reason  to  be  dissatistitnl  with  the  situation  in  which 
we  find  ourselves.  In  tho  latter  point  of  view  we  have  most 
reason  to  bo  grateful.  For  some  ycmrs  of  our  life  our  father  had 
not  more  than  £80  a  year;  and  if  you  take  the  whole  of  tho 
United  Kingdom,  you  will  find  that  the  sons  of  a  man  of  such 
un  income  are  generally  without  edu»;ation,  and  little  removed 
above  the  condition  of  day-laborer.-.  W'e  have  had  tho  very 
best  means  of  improvement;  we  are  both  in  u  creditable  line  of 
life;  we  have  a  fair  prospect  of  reaching  independenct!  through 
industrN ,  and  of  placing  our  children,  if  we  shoui<l  have  any, 
above  tho  difKculties  with  which  W(^  have  iiad  ttt  struy;gle.  .  .  . 

The  II(Kise  of  Conunons,  you  will  hear,  has  approved  of  the 
expedition  to  Walchercn,  and  would  have  done  so  had  it  boon, 
if  possible,  more  dcsersing  of  reprehension.  Ministers  are  now 
quite  secure  for  tho  present  session,  and  most  probably  for  the 
King's  life.     They  hav(^   gained  a  oonsidcrable  accession  of 


d'-fuuB 
mil    'Ai^'VVi 


'    t'l 


200 


UPK  OF  IX)IU>  CAMPBELL. 


[1810. 


HtreiiKth  by  the  fooliHli  condu(;t  of  Sir  Fmiicix  Biirdctt.*  Not 
only  Ih  |)ul)li(!  uttentitMi  dmwii  awuy  iVoiii  their  |>iiMt  bluiiderH, 
but  a  iuiiiilM!r  of  wouk,  ptopl*',  who  arc  of  thf  o|i|)(Hitioii  jmrty, 
my  'ut  Huv\\  u  cr/m  ihcy  iiiu.st  .stand  by  the  (iovcniiiicnt.'  I 
>vjw  with  the  mob  in  St.  JaincMH  S<|uaro,  IMccadilly  ami  Tower 
II ill — but  t(M)k  care  to  make  oil'  In-lore  the  ti/^htinj^  eommeia-cd. 
liurdett  is  blamed  by  all  rational  men.  Ife  has  not  advanced 
any  one  (»f  his  «»wn  objects,  lie  is  «'.\|)eeted  to  eome  out  willi 
Homething  very  vioK-nt  in  a  »lay  or  tw(>.  There  are  parties  of 
l)ors(>  and  flying  artillery  still  paradin<;  the  streets  at  ni^^ht,  |)iit 
the  town  is  perfectly  trancpiii.  If  the  House  of  Commons  hud 
cxpelle<l  Burdett  HO  iw  to  occasion  his  re-election  for  Westminst(>r, 
thesoldiei's  \Mi\\r  ull  withdrawn,  the  nuttropolis  would  have  Ixca 
laid  in  ashes.  I  am  sorry  to  sec  anythin*^  happen  to  do  ;>o(mI  to 
IVrooval,  but  1  have  very  little  regard  for  his  opponents.  (Jrcy 
and  (jjrcnville  have  more  enlarged  and  liberal  views  on  all  suh- 
jectri  of  policy,  both  foreign  and  <loinestic,  biit  they  are  greater 
urist(M'rats  than  any  (»f  the  prestml  Ministers.  They  would  centre 
the  whole  power  of  the  Slate  in  a  few  great  families,  and  tlicy 
have  no  sympathy  witli  the  bcMly  of  the  people.  My  political 
hero  is  Sir  Sanniel  llomilly.  Upon  almost  every  public  (luestinn 
his  sentiments  are  mine.  He  is  tin;  houestcst  man  and  one  nl' 
the  most  enlightened  in  the  House  of  Conunons.  I  lind  it 
inconvenient  to  be  without  a  party.  A  warm  [)artizan  luis  a 
great  advantage  over  me  in  conversation,  and  sometinie>  in  cniii- 
pany  J  am  t»bliged  to  be  silent,  or  to  draw  on  a  general  assault. 
1  hate  neutrality,  and  though  I  have  not  a  l»irty,  1  liav('  an 
opinion  upon  men  and  jneasures  which  I  like  tt»  ex])ress.  For- 
tunately there  is  no  «Mliuni  on  one  side  of  the  question  or  the 


*Sir  Francis  Burdett  having  (Miircli  12,  ISIO,)  moved  a  ri'soliili"ti  in  tho 
House  of  Commons  for  the  diwcliari^o  of  John  Gale  J  ones  iVoin  ousLody,  nllur- 
wardfl  iiublishud  a  letter  in  Cobbcll'H  I'dlUioii  Jiej/ister  denying  the  power  of 
tho  llouno  of  (.'omnions  to  imprison  the  people  of  England.  On  April  I'tli  lie 
was  arrested  under  a  warrant  from  the  Speaker  of  tho  House  of  ("onimons, 
and  nommiltcd  to  the  Tower  for  a  lireach  of  privilege.  He,  iis  well  an  Gale 
Jones,  was  released  on  the  prorogation  of  I'arliament,  Juno  2l8l. — Ed. 


w 


1810.] 


1118   rniKNIW  TANrtini)   AM>  roi.TMAN. 


261 


other.     I  trust  you  rli(ri.4i  in  the  cliniatcH  of  Hluvery  u  jUHt 
rogtinl  for  t\\v  niust;  of  IViihIoiu  iiimI  tlu>  riglitM  of  nmukind. 

.  .  .  Ohi'!  join  ml'tH  «'w/,'  cry  you;  l»ut  I  «irn  il<>tcrniincd  to 
puniHh  you  for  Hiiyiuj^  I  write  sfiort  h'ttcnt, 

T«mpl«.  April  17,  I«10. 

My  DKAu  lilUKTiiKii : — I  write  you  a  lew  lineM  more  l)y  thcue 
Hhl|H,  that  you  may  hc(<  I  am  not  in(>a|)al)li'  of  amendment.  .  .  . 

1  have  for  nome  time  lo.st  my  fjreat  profeHHlonal  friend,  and 
the  man  whom  of  all  I  have  met  in  life,  after  yourHelf,  I  have 
liknl  the  Ixwt — TanerwI.*  AlMnit  a  year  ami  a  half  ago  he  t(M)k 
it  into  his  head  that  he  knew  nothing  of  law,  and  that  he  would 
Efo  and  live  two  years  with  his  mother,  Iwuly  Tanere<l,  in  the 
country,  to  spen<l  his  whole  time  in  study.  A  most  ridieulouM 
project.  Il(^  would  not  he  a  lawyer  were  he  to  study  law  for  a 
tluMi^'.iiKl  years.  His  mind  is  not  frame<l  for  this  s<'iene(»,  and  he 
has  nu  sutHeiont  stinuilus  for  exertion.  I  expect  him  Imek  to 
the  world  with  j^reat  impatience.  Th(^  barrister  I  associate  most 
with  in  his  ahsenee  is  (!oltman,t  a  Yorkshireman  and  Canta- 
brij^ian.  We  walk  down  to  court  t(»f;ether,  and  communicate 
very  freely  upon  private  as  well  a.s  professional  matters.  He  ig 
a  very  honorable,  gentlemanlike,  well-informed  fuan  ;  but  I  shall 
never  Ix'  with  him  on  the  saine  easy,  delij^htful  footing  of  inter- 
course as  with  Tanered.  ...  If  I  were  to  sow  a  dozen  cards 
every  morning,  <linners  wotjld  spring  up  alauidantly  ;  but  I  can- 
not make  the  calls,  and  very  often  I  could  not  accept  the  invita- 
tions. Tliererore  my  fashionable  i)r()grcss  is  very  slow.  I  find 
if  I  were  to  stici-ee*!  at  the  bar  I  should  be  a  gocnl  deal  courte<l 
by  the  inotluMN  ol'  portionless  maidens.  But  my  marrying  days 
will  be  over  before  I  am  in  a  situation  to  marry  with  advantage 
and  propriety.     This  I  regret. 

.  .  .  The  ple.'isiintness  of  the  life  I  hav(!  chosen,  and  that 
which  I  have  abandoned,  will  bear  no  coniparison.  1  might 
have  had  a  family  in  Scotland,  but   in  peinu'v  and  obscurity 


*For  many  yearo  M.  P.  for  Banlmry.     lie  lUod  in  1860. — Ed. 

t  Ai'terwardH  a  Judge  of  the  Comrnoii  Plean      He  died  in  1840. — Ed. 


203 


LirK  or  lAmu  <<ami>ii»:i,i,. 


[1810. 


wiml  |ili>ii>«iiri>  n>ul()  iImm  liiivc  iit1oi'ili-«l  iiti'V  My  N<H>i«>lv  WoiiM 
ImvtM'i  miHtttl  of  iMHirinli  riii-iiit>i-H  v'wUvv  (liiin  iiiyMt'lf,  hikI  |mt- 
lia|w  II  liiini  inon'  iitMM|i>iit  Imi  not  nion'  tiilli\atc«|,  I  imw  livi- 
on  u  liNitiny;  of  iHiln-l  ><)Uiility  willi  mh'M  n|'  hi^h  Mttli,  of  ihf 
Im<hI  liliiciilion  iin*l  miohI  clt'^rmii  nitinnt'i>.  AntI  HUirly  not  I  in;; 
HO  niiii'li  (li'tcr/iiinix  lli<'  viiinc  of  lil'f  iim  iIm>  mH'ifty  wiili  nliuiii 
one  livtw.  AnutlH-r  iinrociihlr  cluinu  ft'i'iHti«'«»J' my  |H'»>H4'n(  uvtN'ii- 
tioHH  in  tlioir  variity,  I  am  ncvfi-  )KfU|iit'<l  uIhivc  ihi'cn'  \vc('L> 
at  II  tinir  in  lli»'  wnnt'  way.  Now  wc  Iiav«'  Irrni,  now  ,«<ittiii^>, 
how  varation,  now  H4>MionH,  now  ciiH'nit.  Wr  niiilr  the  pli'asin  ,.s 
i>r  tho  town  an<i  tin*  ("(tuntry,  aivd  the  <l('lij^r|,(|'|||  n^italiiiu  of 
hu^'inoH^(  is  HUttHMMhttl  Ity  the  Hoft  laii^iior  of  vixnt^l 

I  laki>  it  for  i^nintHl  you  have  p;ot  in  your  liltraiy  llir  liot 
Kn^liHli  fla-ssicH.  If  not,  it  will  lie  worth  your  wliili>  to  liavr 
tJM'ni  m>nt  out.  They  In-ar  r«'a<linji  vi'ry  olicn,  iind  yuu  «iui 
always  make  tlicni  tell.  It  i.s  ;;o(h|  to  r<>atl  tlic  liisliioiiiiltjc  liiink 
«>f  tli(>  (lay  if  you  an- ^ttiii^  into  (ornpany.  Hut  in  a  uionlli  il 
is  forptttcn,  and  yoiH' rt'Mtlin^  picH  for  nolhinjr.  If  y<iu  cuuM 
tliiMi  r(>|M>al  it  from  lM>^;innin^  tocnd  you  could  ptin  noaitplaiisc, 

JJut  a  quotation  from  I'ojm' or  Swift  will  vvvv  lie  well  ri'ci'ivcti 
— and  lM)tli  for  ploasurr,  iniprovmu'ni,  and  N/inii\  if  is  U'dtr-  to 
stiok  «'liii'fly  to  siu-ii  wrilrrM.  Mut  you  art'  rcudiii;,^  llomtr  in  llu' 
original.  /V/v/c,  piirr!  anil  I  will  lake  a  l('SM>n  from  you  on 
your  return.  I  can  hardy  read  (i reek,  and  unless  it  lie  very 
simple  I  cannot  translate  it.  To  Latin  I  have  applied  with 
^reut  /eal  since  I  came  to  ICn^land,  and  though  I  shall  never  lie 
a  niiLster  of  (piantity,  I  understand  the  meaning  and  r(!i>^h  the 
spirit  of  tluvenai  <tr  Tacitus  lully  as  well  lus  nutst  men  who  have 
Ih-cu  at  Christ  Church.  What  sjiy  you  to  Shakespearu? — familiiii 
with  every  scene?  This  is  the  author  to  study  for  the  siLc  <>!' 
conversation  in  England.  Most  understand  and  all  (piute  him. 
If  you  wouUl  make  a  hrilliant  Hj^ure  in  the  polite  circles  when 
you  come  over,  'iMctui'ii^  vcrsote  manu,  tri'Mife  diurn^.'  Or  do 
you  mean  to  tell  us  of  the  Authropoplia«;i,  and  men  whose  head^ 
do  grow  beiuinth  their  shoulders?  Well  I  after  this  pretty  little 
gossip  I  will  bid  you  good-night  and  go  to  bed. 


I8IM. 


ui4)Vvrnrv.nHumv.  Hnmiosn. 


26.') 


Mv   i»i:\ii   Katiii:!!:  — 


t     •     • 


I  I 


III  VII 


T»Mi|.U,  M»y  7,  iniO. 
Im'CII   Io  (Jlo'Mti'r.*      r 
Htnrtrd  liy  tlic  iiiuil  on   MoimIii)'  rvt-nin^  at  v'^hi,  iinil  itrrivnl 
(Im'P'  ih'xI  tliiy  HiNin  iiHrr  Iwclvr.     W«>  ditl  nnl  ^o  iiilo  miirt  lill 
Wi'iliii'Miliiy  iiiortiiii^r.     'I'lu'i-f  wiu  lit(N>  l)U;'*iii('>«ri,      I  iiw't  with  lu* 

niiicli  Hit «H  iiM  II  iiiiiii  iiiiltiMiwii  to  «'v*'i*y  iittoriM'V  in  lln'  nmnty 

i-oiiM  rrtiMiiiiiilily  rx|Ni'l,  li:iviii)(  liiiil  ii  ^iiiiini  l>i'i<>('  III  ii  |iiiriH|i 
U|>|H'iil  II|Miii  tliiH  iM'ni^tinii  I  liiiil  only  to  liiiikc  il  h|m'C«'|i  H){iiiliHt 
jiiitljivji  nir  till'  lii'Miiii^  mC  the  ii|»|H!il.  Moreover,  t\vi«'«'  n^  nmii'iiH 
euro*  I  l:iiil  ilnwii  llir  law  inr  till' iiiConiiiilioii  of  the  Iniu'Ii.  Oiir 
lialnniiii  \-<  Mr.  Itra^^^i'  MatliiirHt,  lionl  Siiliiioiilli'.M  liiotlirr-iii- 
liiw,  mill  i)r;;iiii  in  llic  IIohhc  of  (!otiiiiioiiH.  lie  kiiowH  jiihl 
I'lioiij^li  ol'  law  to  pcrverl  bin  uii»lfrHliiii(liiijf.  At  thru-  o'cIih-K 
on  Wi'iliH -ulay  tlir  l>iiKiiii>sr<  was  iii'tirly  over  and  I  liiul  nothiiifi: 
ore  to  lio;'"'.     I  |||i'r<rore  tlin  \v  oil'  my  j^own  iiimI  moimleil  ilii> 


III 


nun 


I  oiai'li.     I  wii''  i)l>li;;i'i|  to  tnivei  onlhide  or  to  reiiniin  anoti 


ler 


(lay  III  ( ilo'-^'er  iiDii  I  wax  iiii|ialient  to  ^et  up  to  the  lulioiiriieil 
sittiti^H  at  (iiiiMliail.  There  I  wiih  in  my  wi^  an<l  ){owii  mdou 
after  nine  o'eliM'k  on  l''i  iilay  morniii;;.  My  Journey  wiih  nitiier 
eold,  lull  Very  idea-iaiit.  How  heaiitifiilly  tin- ni^rhtin^^iiles  hiiiijj; 
al  Henley  !  I  was  not,  in  (lie  sli^^htest  d"p;ree  j"ati;fne<l,  hut  as  fit 
on  Friday  I' ic  any  sort  of  exertion  as  I  ever  was  in  my  life. 
Ti  rill  he^iiis  on  Wednesday,  and  a  little  preparatory  laisineHS 


mIiciws  itself  in  mv  i 


hand 


lers. 


I 


Wi 


as  almost  in  despair 


Tail 


ow 


ni 


lU 


V  clerk  an  additional  half-erown  on  Sahinlay  ni;^ht,  if  h<!  has 
)t  had  ("Mr  through  the  week.      lAir  three  siieeessive  weeks  wiw 


\  reduced  (o  this  melancholy  payment!     Hnt  two  ea.s<!H,  u  deelii- 
ratioii  and  a  plea,  have  soothed  my  troiihlod  spirit. 


•      •      • 


[Tilt"  followiii}^  is  an  extract  from  tlie  Antohioj^raphy,  sivlnj? 
Ill  u(  count  of  the  chairman  and  lea(h'rH  of  the  (ilouiiiistershire 


sessions. 


■Ki).]: 


•  :  i3 
.         ■, '1 

1 

'A 

■ 

t^ai 


ff 


We  h.id  for  chairman  Brafj}i;e  Bathiirst,  the  brotlier-in-law  of 
liord  Sidiiioiitli,  and  celebrated  by  Canning  in  the  well-known 
lines : 


*Foi  ill"  Quarter  SeBiioDB. 


i    I 


^ 

^  ^ 

-^^  \'*^^^ 


^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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^ 


'•  ,^ 


^ 


1.25 


lii|21    125 
■u  Uii   12.2 

S  lag  ■" 

^   US    i  20 


^^ 


^ 


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'/ 


/A 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)873-4503 


0 


264 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMIMIKLL. 


L1810. 


Ever  as  ho  BpeakR  mofit  vilely, 
Cheer  him,  cheer  him,  Brother  Hiley. 
When  hit  speech  begins  to  lag, 
Cheer  him,  cheer  him.  Brother  Bragge. 

Brother  Bragge  would  have  done  very  well  as  chairman  if  he 
had  not  been  so  fond  of  making  a  parade  of  his  legal  learning. 
I  was  once  present  when  he  tried  a  man  for  stealing  sheaves  of 
wheat.  It  was  proved  that  the  prisoner  was  seen  to  go  in  the 
night-time  with  an  empty  cart  into  a  wheat-field  nearly  all  reaped, 
the  wheat  being  set  up  in  shotrks.  A  little  hit  however,  remained 
unreapcd.  The  prisoner  was  seen  to  drive  hack  the  cart  loiulcd 
with  sheaves,  which  he  carried  home  and  concealed  in  a  (cow- 
house ;  several  shocks  were  missed  next  day  and  the  track  of 
the  prisoner's  cart  was  distinctly  traced  to  the  i)lacc  where  they 
had  stood.  The  learned  chairman  thus  contiludtMl  his  summing 
up :  *  But  strong  an  the  case  is,  gentlemen,  it  is  my  duty  in  ex- 
pounding the  law  to  you  to  tell  you  that  to  take  that  which  is 
affixed  to  the  freehold  (thanks  to  the  wisdom  and  humanity  of 
our  ancestors)  does  not  by  the  common  law  of  England  amount  to 
the  crime  of  larceny  or  any  crime,  and  is  oidy  a  civil  trespass  to  be 
recompensed  in  damages.  Standing  corn,  according  to  the  best 
authorities,  is  to  be  deemed  affixed  to  the  freehold.  Now  in  this 
ease  there  was  a  part  of  the  prosecutor's  field  of  wheat  which  he  had 
not  reaped,  and  if  it  shall  be  your  opinion  that  the  prisoner  on  the 
night  in  question,  instead  of  filling  his  cart  from  the  shociks  (which 
from  the  marks  of  the  wheels  there  is  some  reason  to  believe  he 
did),  carried  a  sickle  with  him,  reaped  part  of  the  standing  corn, 
bound  it  into  sheaves  and  filled  his  cart  therewith,  it  will  be  your 
duty  to  say  that  he  is  not  gailti/.'  The  prisoner  was  acquitted. 
Shortly  after,  ut  mulivi,  this  doctrine  was  acted  upon  in  a 
remarkable  case  by  the  justices  of  the  Worcestershire  Sessions. 
A  man  was  tried  before  them  for  stealing  horsehair.  It  appeared 
that  he  went  into  a  stable  one  night  and  cut  off  a  horse's  long 
bushy  tail,  which  he  sold  for  the  hair,  but  that  the  hoi*se  at  the 
time  was  tied  to  the  manger  by  a  halter.  The  court  held  that 
the  hair  at  the  time  of  the  severance  was  affixed  to  the  freehold. 


1810.] 


OLOUCESTERflHIRE  SESSIONS. 


2(j<> 


and  directe<l  an  acquittal.  I  cited  this  case  ex  refaiione  in  West- 
minster Hall,  when  the  (jucstion  arose  whether  a  burge  moored 
to  a  wharf  in  the  river  Thames  might  be  distrained  for  rent  by 
the  landlord  of  the  wharf. 

The  leaders  of  the  sessions  were  Ludlow,  afterwards  a  serjeant- 
at-law  and  a  bankruptcy  judge,  a  most  enormous  favorite  of  the 
attorneys,  and  Taunton,  who  had  gained  great  reputjition  at  Christ 
Church  under  Dean  Jackson,  and  afterwards  was  made  a  judge 
of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench.  He  Avas  a  fine  scholar  as  well  as 
a  deep  lawyer,  and  I  think  he  would  have  made  a  greater  figure 
in  life  had  not  the  eftect  of  his  good  qualities  Ixjcn  impaire<l  by 
the  most  unaccountable  love  of  saving.  As  an  example,  I  was 
once  returning  with  him  by  the  mail-coach  from  the  sessions, 
when,  he  said,  *  I  think  I  have  done  rather  a  clever  thing.  I 
found  that  meat  is  a  penny  a  pound  cheaper  at  Gloucester  than 
in  London,  and  I  have  brought  enough  to  serve  my  family  for 
a  week.'  But  as  we  were  leaving  the  yard  of  the  Golden  Cross, 
Charing  Cross,  where  we  alighted,  I  found  him  in  a  violent  alter- 
cation with  the  coachman,  who  insisted  on  detaining  his  trunk 
till  he  should  pay  twopence  a  pound  for  his  extra  luggjige.  lie 
was  famous  for  grumbling  at  his  ill  luck.  He  said  if  he  ha<l 
only  two  briefs  at  the  assizes,  one  in  the  civil  and  one  in  the 
Crown  court,  the  two  cases  were  sure  to  come  on  at  the  same 
moment.  Hearing  how  the  value  of  some  property  near  the 
river  Thames  had  been  greatly  increased  by  the  construction  of 
Waterloo  Bridge  with  its  approaches,  he  observed,  '  It  will  be 
long  l)cfore  they  build  such  a  bridge  near  my  house  in  Chancery 
Lane.'  It  wtis  expected  that  he  would  make  a  great  judge,  but 
his  health  was  impaired  and  his  faculties  had  declined  before  he 
was  taken  from  the  bar. 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  Saturday,  Juno  IB,  1810. 
My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  was  sitting  behind  Cobbett  yes- 
terday during  his  trial.*     His  speech  greatly  disappointed  public 

*  Cobbett  was  prosecuted  for  an  article  in  the  PoUHcal  Megisler  on  Flogging 
in  the  Militia.  He  was  sentenced  to  be  imnrisoned  for  two  years,  and  to  pay 
£1000  fine.— Ed. 

VOL  I.  12 


206  LIFE  OF  LOBD  CAMPBELL.  [1810. 

expectation.  ludccil  it  was  the  poorest  trash  I  ever  heanl — witli- 
out  any  character  at  all,  or  a  uingle  feature  of  cxcellciico.  This 
exhibition  must  lower  him  a  good  deal,  but  he  writes  with  such 
vigor  and  originality,  and  so  well  understands  the  varying  taste 
of  the  public,  that  his  '  Register '  will  be  read  as  eagerly  as  ever, 
although  dated  from  Newgate  or  Dorchester  gaol.  .  .  . 

I  have  heard  nothing  yet  of  my  new  Number,  but  I  consider 
it  the  most  valuable  I  have  yet  published.  My  Rciwi-ts  being 
quoted  before  Loitl  Ellcnborough  about  ten  days  ago,  he  took  an 
opportunity  to  pniise  them.  I  was  advised  in  presenting  this 
Number  to  the  Chancellor  to  remind  him  of  my  claims  to  his 
patronage,  but  upon  consideration  I  thought  I  should  only  expose 
myself  to  ridicule.  My  only  chance  would  Imj  to  get  Ellcnbor- 
ough to  apply  to  him  for  a  conmiissionership  of  bankrupts  for 
me ;  but  they  are  unfortunately  of  different  parties  and  on  bud 
terms,  and  I  don't  see  how  the  thing  is  to  ha  brought  about.  How- 
ever, I  hope  to  get  on  without  any  favor  from  the  great.  . 

Gloucester,  Augusts,  ]8I0. 

My  dear  Father  : — .  ...  I  have  the  vanity  to  think  that 
if  I  once  had  a  little  business  on  this  circuit,  I  should  soon  have 
a  good  deal.  The  men  who  now  have  the  business  are  generally 
of  very  inferior  talents,  and  the  youths  who  have  joined  within 
the  last  seven  years  are  only  fit  to  drive  a  curricle  or  talk  of 
Greek  prosody.  There  is  more  ability  for  business  at  the  Surrey 
Sessions  than  on  the  whole  Oxford  cir(!uit.  But  without  some 
lucky  ac(!ident  it  may  be  many  a  day '  efore  I  am  fairly  tried.  I 
lodge  here  in  the  same  house  with  Mr.  T)auncey,  who  is  the  favor- 
ite. The  briefs  are  pouring  in  upon  him  like  hail.  I  overhear 
the  attorneys  squabbling  with  his  clerk  about  retainers  and  striv- 
ing to  have  him  on  both  sides.  No  inquiries  about  Counsellor 
C 1! 

I  cannot  help  sometimes  wondering  by  what  a  course  of  acci- 
dents your  son  should  now  be  in  this  part  of  the  world  wcarinn' 
a  wig  and  gown.  Should  I  have  been  happier  vegetatinf;:  as  a 
countr>'  parson  with  a  wife  and  children  and  £160  a  year — a 


ISIO.] 


TO  LEITII   BY  WATER. 


267 


dinuur  at  the  luird'H  the  inoHt  splendid  event  of  my  life,  und  a 
ride  to  the  nuirket  town  on  Presbytery  day  the  utmost  limit  of 
my  tmvclM?  No  di8ap{K)intmcnt,  disgust  or  despondency  how- 
ever deep  hiw  ever  made  me  sigh  for  the  Kirl<.  You  know  I 
honor  it,  und  reverenee  its  ministers,  but  I  never  c^ould  have  been 
useful,  re8])e<!tuble  or  happy  as  one  of  the  numl)cr.  So,  whatever 
my  actual  lot  may  be,  I  have  no  cause  of  regret. 

Temple,  August  HI,  1810 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  On  Sunday  at  5  p.  m.  Magdalen 
and  I  sailed  for  licith  by  the  'Swallow,'  White,  master.  I 
should  have  preferred  the  port  of  Dundee,  but  there  was  but 
one  little  sloop  to  sail  for  that  place  on  Sunday,  and  her  cabin  is 
so  small  as  not  to  permit  a  person  to  breathe  in  it.  The  '  Swal- 
low' is  a  very  fine  vessel  and  fitted  up  most  ooramodiously  for 
passengers.  To  guard  against  the  crowd  I  have  secure<l  the  best 
bed  in  the  ladies'  apartment  for  Mag,  and  the  best  in  the  gentle- 
men's for  myself.  We  are  to  have  clean  sheets  and  every  sort 
of  luxury.  I  shall  attend  to  your  directions  as  to  stores.  'And 
80  God  send  us  to  our  destined  p'l^rt  in  safety.'  In  the  present 
state  of  the  weather  I  should  think  we  have  most  to  dread  calms. 
If  we  are  with  you  on  Saturday,  the  8th  of  September,  we  shall 
have  no  reason  to  complain.  As  to  the  length  of  my  stay,  this 
unfortunately,  is  not  in  the  slightest  degree  in  my  disiU'etion.  I 
must  necessarily  be  in  London  on  Michaelmas  day  and  I  have 
no  desire  to  be  here  sooner.  This  is  the  shortest  possible  long 
vacation  there  can  ever  be.  Another  season  I  hope  to  be  with 
you  a  period  more  commensurate  with  my  desires.  Even  this 
little  glimpse  of  happiness  will  he  a  lasting  source  of  agreeable 
reflec'tion,  will  sootlie  my  past  anxieties  and  again  fit  me  for  the 
struggles  of  life.  .  .  . 

The  principal  event  of  the  week  has  l)een  my  taking  a  new 
set  of  chambers.  I  have  been  veiy  lucky  at  last.  You  remem- 
ber Paper  Buildings,  with  the  gardens  on  one  side  and  the  great 
square  on  the  other,  by  far  the  pleasantest  situation  in  the  Tem- 
ple or  any  of  the  Inns  of  Court,     My  address  in  future  will  be 


268 


LIFE  OP   IX)RD  CAMPBELL. 


[1810 


*  14,  Paper  Buildings/  First  floor,  fotir  excellent  roonw,  view 
up  the  river  to  Westminster  Abbey,  with  the  Surrey  hills  in  the 
distunce,  equally  adapted  for  hcnUth  and  for  eonvcniemw,  for 
pleasure  and  for  busiuos'S.  The  att«>rneys  as  they  pjuw  by  will 
say :  '  Ah  !  he  is  getting  on.  He  ninst  know  something  al)ont 
it.  We  will  tiy  him.'  And  then  attorneys'  elerks  must  bring 
me  inmiiiu'iablc  motions  to  sign  that  they  may  enjoy  the  pro8|KH.'t 
from  the  western  windows  while  I  write  my  name.  I  might  have 
immediate  possession,  but  I  shall  not  enter  till  Michaelmas.  .  .  . 
I  am  going  to  meet  my  sisters  from  Hackney  at  the  Royal 
Exchange  to  attend  them  to  some  shops.    Adieu. 

[On  the  2d  of  September  he  sailed  for  Leith  with  his  sister 
Magdalen,  spent  a  fortnight  with  his  father  at  Cupar,  and  was 
back  in  London  before  Michaelmas  day. — Ed.] 

Temple,  Thursday,  September  27, 1810. 

My  dear  Fatiieu: —  .  .  .  Here  I  am  once  more  in  the 
bustle  of  London  and  the  solitude  of  ehaml)cr8.  Surely  we  can 
be  at  no  great  distance  from  one  another.  It  seems  but  a  niomont 
since  we  pai-ted  at  the  New  Inn.  I  got  to  Petticur  us  the  first 
boat  was  about  to  sail.  However  I  was  treated  a  tolerable  while 
with  a  sight  of  .the  Fife  shore.  I  was  three  houra  and  a  half 
on  the  passage,  and  at  last  got  to  land  by  a  small  wherry  with 
two  or  three  other  paascngei-s.  Whether  the  rest  have  yet 
reached  the  port  I  consider  very  doubtful.  Got  up  from  Ijeith 
to  the  '  Ttirf '  coffee-house  by  the  stage.  One  place  vacant  in  the 
London  mail ;  took  it  to  York,  and  no  further.  Rememl)er  that. 
Had  merely  time  to  get  a  little  refreshment  and  to  buy  myself  a 
travelling-cap.  Off  we  set  a  few  minutes  beibre  four.  I  was  a 
little  fatigued  when  we  got  to  Berwick,  but  there  I  ate  a  gowl 
8U])per,  and  having  slept  a  considerable  part  of  the  way  to  New- 
castle, I  was  in  high  condition  the  following  day.  Travelled 
outside  to  Northallerton,  fifty  miles.  I  lay  along  the  top  of  the 
coach  and  was  quite  as  much  at  my  ease  as  if  I  had  been  lolling 
on  a  sofa.     Got  inside  after  dinner  and  had  a  pleasant  nap. 


1810.] 


EDINBURGH  TO  LONDON  BY  THE  MAIL. 


269 


Ui)on  my  arrival  at  York  at  about  ten,  I  considered  with  inyHcIf 
whether  you  would  have  odvisctl  mo  to  stop  or  go  on,  and  I  con- 
tilud(Hl  you  would  have  Miid, '  Go  on  by  all  nieuns ;  you  arc  quite 
08  fit  to  travel  as  you  would  Ik;  to-niorrow  night  j  you  are  not 
sure  of  then  getting  a  ])lac« ;  you  niui^t  spend  your  time  very 
<lisagre«il)ly  at  York,  where  you  have  nothing  nisw  to  see ;  get 
up  to  London  as  quickly  as  you  can,  and  wcHhall  hoar  the  sooner 
of  your  arrival  to  Cupar.'  So  as  a  dutiful  son  I  wont  imme- 
diately to  the  ooach-office  and  took  my  place  for  the  rest  of 
the  way.  N.  B.  You  pay  no  more  tlian  if  you  took  your  |)lace 
through  at  once.  From  Edinburgh  to  London,  £10. ;  to  York, 
£4  los.     From  York  to  London  £5  5s. 

I  had  now  two  hours  to  sit  with  my  legs  stretched  out  on  two 
chairs,  to  sip  tea  and  to  read  the  newsiwipers.  At  twelve  the 
horn  again  blows  and  I  go  comfortably  to  rest.  However,  I  was 
disturbed  so  early  as  five  by  Injing  obliged  to  get  out  to  breakfast 
at  Doncaster.  The  weather,  which  had  been  foggy,  was  now  be- 
come delightful  and  I  ha<l  several  very  pleasant  stages  on  the 
caich-box.  No  dust  during  the  journey.  The  harvest  is  un- 
doubtetUy  further  advanced  in  Fife  than  in  Northumberland 
and  Durham.  There  we  saw  wheat  still  quite  green.  But  I 
will  not  further  detail  the  observations  I  made  in  my  mail-coach 
tour.  There  is  one  new  sight  on  the  road  since  you  travelled  it. 
You  have  been  shown  the  house  where  the  great  Sir  Isaac  New- 
ton was  born;  but  the  coachman  pointed  out  to  me  with  great 
rapture  the  farm  on  whi(!h  the  Great  Durham  Ox  was  bred.  I 
must  now  whisk  you  along  to  Grantham,  where  we  dined  yes- 
terday. '  Bang  up  to  the  mark ! '  we  are  at  Huntingdon  to  sup- 
per. I  am  awoke  by  the  rattling  of  the  wheels.  Day  dawns 
and  Shoi-editch  church  flies  behind  me  on  the  left.  As  five 
struck  we  were  at  the  G.  P.  O.  in  Lombard  Street.  Alighted  at 
the  'Bull  and  Mouth'  as  fresh  as  when  I  started  from  Edin- 
burgh. There  being  some  difficulty  about  getting  a  hackney 
coach,  J.  put  my  portmanteau  on  my  shoulder  and  walked  with 
it  to  the  Temple.  When  I  got  hei*e  I  went  to  bed,  p'o  formdf 
and  lay  till  half-past  nine;   but  though  I  dozed  a  little  I  missed 


270 


I.IFK  ol'    l.oiil)  (AMIMIELL. 


[1810. 


thv  itM!kiii|(  oftho  iiinil.    \a  I  wiim  <Ii'CHNii%u(loul)l'>  knuck.    A 
letter  fnmi  GtHjrgi! — Feb.  10.  .  .  . 

Pnpt>r  Building*,  Ootohor  X,  |9|0. 

My  dkau  Fathkr: — In  coinpliaiu'c  with  your  wiHhoo  I  sit 
down  to  give  you  n  phort  nccount  of  my  vxcurHion  to  (ilou- 
c«8ter.  .  .  . 

From  n>y  journey  I  never  felt  the  nlightost  fntiguo  or  incon- 
venience. I  could  emtily  hiivo  tmv«'ll<Hl  down  to  Edinburgh 
again  by  the  return  of  the  mail  cojich.  As  to  Gloucester,  I 
think  no  more  of  going  thc'ro  than  of  going  to  Hackney.  Mr. 
Cooper  had  8C<!ured  me  a  place  in  the  mail  of  Monday  evening, 
and  I  was  in  my  lodgingx  ready  to  see  my  clients  by  twelve  n<'xt 
day.  You  will  rtyoice  to  know  thiit  tli;':<o  wsHioiiH  proved  to  nie 
highly  profitable  and  flattering.  My  hucccss  (M>mparc<l  with  my 
exi)ectation8  was  little  short  of  brilliant.  Yon  may  now  jwr- 
ha{>s  Ixi  disappointed  when  I  tell  you  that  I  made  23  guin- 
eas; but  without  a  conHidend)le  share  of  goo<l  fortune  I  n)iglit 
have  attended  for  years,  as  othei-s  have  done,  without  making  m 
much.  There  were  eight  api)etds  trietl  and  I  had  a  l)rief  in  each. 
Resides  which  T  conducted  two  pros<>cutions,  dcfende<l  one  pris- 
oner, and  oppostnl  an  applimtion  that  a  man  should  Ih>  compelled 
to  give  security  to  keep  the  peace.  I  had  frequent  opportunities 
of  addressing  the  court,  and  though  I  by  no  means  ac<piitted 
myself  to  my  own  satisfaction,  I  felt  myself  improving  in  con- 
fiden(;e  and  fluency.  In  one  or  two  cjises  in  which  I  was  beaten 
I  dare  say  the  attorneys  grumbled.  On  th(?  other  hand  I 
receive<l  compliments  from  those  for  whom  I  was  successful. 
Two  from  Won^stcrshire  asked  me  if  I  went  to  tlu;  Worcester 
Sessions,  and  being  answered  in  the  negative,  said  they  hoped  to 
have  the  l)enefit  of  my  assistance  at  their  assizes.  I  certainly 
now  consider  myself  as  having  taken  root  at  Gloucester.  I  can- 
not expect  to  make  so  much  money  as  at  the  last  sessions,  because 
there  is  rarely  near  so  much  business,  but  I  am  almost  sure  for 
the  future  of  having  a  brief  in  every  appeal,  and  I  may  pick  up 
a  few  stray  things  besides.     When  the  two  leaders,  Taunton  and 


1811.] 


KXCURHION  TO  rAMIIiillMiE. 


271 


Ludlow,  uro  ivinovod,  T  may  tlieii  Iu)ih>  to  Imvo  nil  t\w  wtwIoiiM 
ttffonl.  TluM  y>rr  He  w  not  tniK'li,  l)Ut  a  man  in  tho  Itiul  nt  nca- 
Bions  hiw  ulwuyH  n  great  (Unil  at  tin'  iiswI/ch.  Tho  Oxtonl  «>ii'fuit 
is  now  a  much  IwitttT  MiMiuiIation  tor  uw  than  it  apiM'arcd  a  wock 
ugo.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  was  a  g<MMl  deal  mortified  and  eaot 
down  by  my  Ixid  luck  in  the  Hummer,  hut  8t.  Michael  Ikm 
NtepiMHl  in  to  my  aid.  We  did  not  tiiilsh  till  Friday  nt  four 
oVIoek.  At  four  on  Saturday  morning  I  gut  into  a  new  jHwt- 
cotich  lately  net  up  in  opposition  to  the  Cheltenham  JUiiuj-up, 
and  was  in  l^ondon  by  Heven  in  tho  evening,  ))erforming  the 
journey,  although  wo  breakfastwl  and  dinwl  on  tho  road,  in  one 
hour  \vm  than  the  mail. 

I  took  posHCHsion  of  my  new  chamlKirs  on  the  20th  of  lost 
month,  and  find  myself  moHt  comfortably  situatetl  indtntl.  My 
prcwjKX't,  next  to  that  from  the  Castle  Hill  at  Cupar,  is  the  most 
l)eautiful  I  over  saw.  I  have  alM)ve  a  mile  of  tho  river  before 
ine,  prestiuting  a  new  sj-eue  every  moment.  The  Temple  Oar- 
dens  affoixl  the  most  enchanting  foreground  to  my  landscaiK!,  and 
it  is  closed  in  by  such  objects  as  Westminster  Abl)ey,  St.  Ste- 
phen's Chapel,  St.  John's  Church,  Lambeth  and  the  Surrey  hills. 

Temple,  January  1,  1811, 

My  dear  Father: — I  received  your  kind  letter  on  my 
return  from  Cambridge  on  Saturday.  I  went  down  on  Wednes- 
day with  Coltman,  a  fellow  of  Trinity,  and  I  have  had  a  very 
pleiisant  excursion.  The  first  day  we  dined  nt  the  inn,  and  in 
the  evening  visited  the  coffee-houses,  <fec.  On  the  morning  of 
Thursday  we  made  the  round  of  the  different  colleges  and  public 
buildings  and  saw  all  the  lions.  Dined  in  Christ's  with  Kaye, 
tutor  of  the  college,  where  we  met  Lord  Dumfries  his  pupil. 
Brown  the  master,  and  n  numerous  party  of  gownsmen.  It  is 
not  easy  to  imagine  the  luxury  in  which  the  Cantabrigians  live. 
I  have  seldom  seen  in  any  private  house  a  more  elegant  dinner 
or  supper,  or  things  conducted  in  Initter  stylo,  than  Kaye  pre- 
sented to  us  in  his  college  rooms.  Considering  your  northern 
prejudices,  you  will  have  more  difficulty  to  conceive  the  prdor 


272 


MFK  OF   l,<>UI>  (  .VMI'liKI.I., 


[1811. 


luul  iiHHHliiit)-  with  wliifli  M\u\y  in  {MirHiicd  in  tliiH  |ilit(f.  Many 
of  the  inoii  uri;  idle,  no  doultt,  Itut  tJicri'  iH  u  cIuhm  who  (or  a  tiiiio 
at  loaMt  {\'h.,  till  they  havt;  taken  their  de^riH*)  i'ny^  in  a  manner 
alnitiMt  eiitirely  unknown  at  St.  Andrewrt  or  even  at  Iviinhtn'j^li, 
There  an*  MO  many  ineentiveM  to  exertion  at  (-anihritljiie,  hi  pri/cn, 
rehoJarHhips,  rellow>hiiM,  &i'.,  that  a  threat  N|)ir!t  of  ennilatioa 
i)e<-eHHiu'ily  muHt  1m>,  and  e(<rtainly  in,  ppMlueiMl.  My  NonH  hIiiiII 
ill!  go  to  C-'aml)ri<lge.  On  Friday  wedine<I  in  the  hall  of  Trinity 
College.  Everything  on  a  grand  neale.  The  reveinieM  of  the 
j'ollege  exeeinl  Xi]0,{HH)  a  year.  After  partaking  of  a  HumptuouM 
dinner,  whidi  began  at  three,  we  retired  with  the  fellowM  to  tli<> 
eondtination  r(H>in,  where  we  Hat  Hoaking  port  till  eight  or  nine. 
CardH  were  then  intnMluecHl,  and  tho  entertainment  eoneludctl 
with  a  magnificent  8tipiMT.  We  reaehe«l  town  on  Satnnlay  l>y 
four  o'cI(K>k,  and  I  went  to  dine  at  the  HritiHh  with  the  Ikeswing 
Club. 

Leathley,  one  of  our  mendiei-H,  is  just  married.  It  w  the 
general  opinion  of  tlie  eluh  that  I  am  to  go  next.  On  Sunday 
1  had  the  honor  to  dine  with  the  new  nmrrie<l  pair,  and  my 
i<lejw  of  ilonu'Htie  haj)pines8  wen>  n(»t  at  all  lowertnl.  However 
I  fear  I  Hhall  be  in  no  Hituation  to  marry  till  it  i»  too  late.  I 
shall  be  natiisfied  if  I  am  able  to  maintain  decently  my  state  of 
baehel«)ri^hip,  and  of  this,  if  I  continue  to  enjoy  health,  1  have 
no  reas(mab!<>  cause  of  doubt.  My  fees  for  the  year  just  ended 
amount  to  jC53()  U.  Of  hoiuq  I  have  been  cheated  by  blackguard 
attorneys,  and  one  of  considcniblc  size  I  found  myself  ol)liged 
to  refuse,  but  I  have  certainly  received  above  jC500.  This  for 
the  fourth  year  of  n»y  professional  life  is  not  to  complain  of. 

I  shall  have  plenty  of  leisure  for  the  next  fortnight.  The 
sessions  do  not  begin  this  year  till  the  15th.  I  have  one  retainer, 
which  comes  from  persons  and  from  a  part  of  the  country  I 
never  hoard  of  before.  My  vanity  you  see  begins  to  rise.  I 
liad  at  one  time  a  good  chance  to  be  retainetl'for  the  Gloucester- 
shire election,  and  Sir  William  Guise  has  siud  that  if  either  of 
the  gentlemen  he  has  retained  should  be  unable  to  attend  he  will 
resort  to  me.     I  wish  him  success  from  the  most  disinterested 


1811.] 


INttANITY   or  TIIK   KINO. 


273 


iiiutivcu.    The  ooiiHpimcy  lictwuon  Tioni  Bci'kuU<y  bimI  the  Duke 
of  lUmufort  to  briiiK  in  Duttoii  irt  infumoiiM.* 

It  Ih  ^uiUTully  Miid  tliu  King  w  likuly  to  die.  Whoii  at  Cuni- 
lirulgu  1  lu'ititl  from  uiKiiuittionuhlu  uiitliority  that  h«'  wiim  mtui, 
not  only  alnxit  the  yt'ur  '<M  or  *06,  which  I  Ix't'ore  knew,  but 
likewlHo  wlu'H  n  liul  of  fotirtcvn.  Kaye  wiw  toKI  ho  by  lionl 
]tiiti>  U't'oru  thJH  ilhu'SM  broke  out.  LonI  liute  wax  told  ho  by 
hii  father,  who  t(»gether  with  the  (^uihui  found  the  greateitt 
dlirieulty  to  keep  the  mutter  a  lieeret  from  the  nuti<m. 


Templo,  Ffibruary  22,  1811. 

My  dgau  Fatiirr: —  .  .  .  Droughnm  uequired  great  iclal 
tu-day  by  bin  defence  of  the  lIuntH.f  H'm  H|>ee(h  won  the  bcHt 
lliat  has  been  made  in  the  King'8  Bench  thene  sjcven  yeuru,  und 
iVum  the  extraordinary  luek  of  getting  u  verdict  against  the 
AUorney -General  and  the  Chief  Juntiee  in  u  cum,  of  libel,  he  is 
a  made  man.  If  he  eluxMCM  to  atick  to  tlic  luw,  he  in  now  Hure  of 
getting  itri  highiMt  hononi. 

I'ublie  allUird  continue  in  the  8ame  anomuloua  utute.  Tliv 
I'rince's  resolution  to  make  no  change  wuh  pnxlueed  by  Sir  Hurry 
llulford,  who  tuMured  him  that  the  certain  couHequence  of  turning 
out  Mr,  I'erccval  would  be  bringing  on  u  frcMh  paroxyHm  and 
rendering  the  King  incumbly  mad.  I  hear  and  I  believe  that 
II.  M.  has  remained  during  the  last  mouth  very  nearly  ia  titatu 
(juo.  His  bodily  health  is  good,  und  he  can  talk  for  a  few 
uiinutes  us  rutiouully  us  he  used  to  do,  but  he  goes  off  uguiu  and 
talks  the  most  iuconceivuble  nonsense.  I  do  not  imagine  that  he 
will  ever  be  in  such  u  state  that  if  he  were  u  private  muu  he 
would  be  entrusted  with  the  manugement  of  his  own  ufluirs. 

I  don't  much  like  the  upprouching  prospect  of  the  circuit. 
Unfortunutely  we  are  to  be  kept  out  u  week  longer  thnn  usuul. 


•This  election  cost  each  of  the  parties  above  £100,000. 

t  Howell's  Slate  Trials,  vol.  zxzi.  p.  367.  John  Hunt  and  Leigh  Hunt, 
proHBcuted  for  libel  by  Sir  Vicary  Gibbs.  The  alleged  libel  was  contained  in 
an  article  in  the  Examiner  newspaper  on  Military  Flogging,  See  ZAve$  of  the 
Chancellori,  vol.  viii.  p.  274  — Ed. 


274 


l.irK  or    l,OlU>  (AMI'IIKI.I, 


[1811. 


'rh<>  onlcr  of  Miir  ntiiU!  in  liki'wU*  nltcn<«l.  I  Join  ut  (jlniirtiiU'i- 
aikI  W(>  (liiiMJi  at  WonMHiUtr.  I  mIiuII  Imvf  |>l*>iity  of  Ujmuru  to 
write  t(»  you  from  any  oiiu  of  the  ciri'iiit  towiiM. 

Mxrrror'l   .Ntitrcli  20,  |N|| 

Mv  I>KAU  Fatiiku:—  .  .  .  I  liavc  not  In>«'ii  «>iitin'ly  without 
lurk.  TJM'n'  wiin  a  iimii  in  cooHidrrtiltli'  liUHincHM  wlio  wiim  takt'ti 
ill  at  (iloufVHtcr  and  ^avo  uw  a  hriff  to  lioM  for  him  in  a  |irofM>- 
t'Ution  for  nnmlcr.  The  niH4>  t>.xt'it«>(l  ^^\'vH^  cnrioftity,  anti  tlic 
i-ourt  wiw  v«'ry  ('n)W»h'<l  when  it  rainc  on.  For  thr  i\mt  tiini' 
Hin(t>  I  hav(>  iMi'n  ciilltil  to  the  Inu',  I  iMTfonniil  to  my  own  KatiH- 
fiu^tion.  Th(!  priwinrr  wum  actinittctl  an  h(>  on^ht  to  have  lM><>n 
and  OM  I  anxionnly  wiHlinl  that  lirHhould  Im*.  IndnHl  I  wun  very 
much  fri^htoiuHl  hy  Haron  (h'uhatn  Munimin);  up  t<Mi  Ktron);ly 
ngninnt  him.  If  the  man  had  \hh>u  cttnyictHl  I  Hhonid  havt'lNvii 
very  unhappy,  althouKh  I  cttrtainly  <*ondu<>t<><l  the  profUMiition 
with  gnnit  nuHlcration  and  ciindor.  I  rct'civctl  coinitlinicntf*  upon 
the  ocnwion,  and  |H'otnim>r4  of  hricfH  for  fiitiiiv  ur<si/<>x. 

At  thiH  town  of  IfoA>for<l  I  hav«>  made  no  Icmm  than  four 
guincufl  l>y  proHtHnitin^  a  man  for  stcalinfj;  a  «'ow.  I  ^ot  one 
guinea  for  an  opinion  that  he  nii^ht  lie  tried  here,  althon};h  the 
oow  wiiM  stolen  in  the  county  of  Salop,  the  prisoner  ha vinj;  after- 
wards brought  her  into  Herefordshire,  and  I  ha<l  tlire*'  •rulnetiM 
mort*  with  my  brief.  I  kilhil  my  hird.  I  was  in  ^n'at  appre- 
hension of  an  acquittal,  which  would  have  exninlin^Iy  dis^rracinl 
me.  The  cas<^  was  very  clearly  made  out  against  tin-  pristincr, 
but  Baron  Graham  for  that  reason  summiHl  up  rather  in  \w 
favor. 

If  I  nhould  not  «)iM>n  my  mouth  again  during  the  present  eir* 
cuit,  I  should  by  no  means  re|M'nt  coming  here.  I  should  not 
have  d(me  so  much  upon  the  Home,  and  my  prospect  on  the 
Oxford  is  intinitely  In^tter.  There  are  not  here  uiorc  than  two 
men  who  are  better  lawyers  than  myself,  nor  mori?  than  Jive, 
leaders  inchuUtl,  who  are  iHitWr  ac<]uainted  with  business.  Under 
tlicse  cireumstancrefl,  time  and  aivident  I  think  must  bring  nie  for- 
ward.    And  there  is  not  much  danger  from  new  comers.    The 


IHll.] 


TIIK    Vl¥V.  UAOI,   illl.l.. 


27fl 


i>x|H>iiw>  in  M) ^riiit  llitU  it  «iiii  uiily  Im> Hii|i|Mirt)>«l  Ity  nioii  of  t'nrtiiii«>, 
who  un<  not  very  (orini«liil>l(\  I  tttuiTivf  u  iiiaii  diii't  ^o  thiM 
('in'iiit  iinlcKs  hit  \n  nhh>  to  i*\»'Ui\  X>VM)  it  ynir.  To  do  that  for 
Hvvcn  yoarN,  without  iiiiikiii);  ii  |M'iiny,  I'Xiii-tU  th«'  iiu'iiiim  ot'  in«Mt 
■lion  who  tin>  to  niiikr  tlicir  way  in  the  worM  liy  th<'ir  own  in<hi»> 
try.  From  my  ^innI  hick  in  (ri-itin)^  hii.xint'SH  in  I<onilon,  I  Hhal) 
\n>  nith'  t((  wait  till  I  (<r4tlll>li^h  my.'M'ir  on  ihr  cirt  tiit.  In  u  |Mfu- 
hinry  [N»int  of  vii>w,  it  would  \u<  niiu-h  lH>tt«i-  tor  m«'  not  to  U>iiv(> 
lionilon  tlifM*  ten  yciii^^  to  conit'.  Hut  it  i'*  oidy  on  tin*  cin'uit 
timt  n  yonn^  miin  hiin  tiny  o|>|Nirtnnity  of  It'urnin^  tint  art  of 
H|H>iikin^  or  (tin  ho|M>  to  attain  tli<'  honoix  of  th<>  profcMion. 

On  Friday  wo  Htart  for  Shrf'w.xhnry,  hnt  w«'  xhall  «to|)  that 
night  at  Ludlow,  and  pay  our  r(S|M'<>t^  to  f^ucirn  Hona|Nirto  and 
hiH  pretty  daughter. 

TnnipK  SiiniUy  niKlit  Mtjr  12,  1811. 

My  dkah  Fathkic —  .  .  .  Although  not  ri'tainrd  for  or 
ngainst  the  Fife  Haol  lUII,  and  thuH  n(>glc<-tcd  and  atfront(>d  l)y 
my  native  country,  I  will  not  altogcth<'r  dcs|H>nd.  Thiw 
Englinhcrs  have  wimowhat  a  tiittcrcnt  opinion  of  me.  The  Hiime 
WiM'k  your  Hill  was  Huftere<l  to  Ih'  kntM-knl  on  the  head,  f  niade, 
without  the  a>wistan('e  of  Provost  Fcrgnsson  or  JamcM  Stark  or 
nny  Scotchman  whatwK'ver,  fj'ffl-fit'*'  f/niiiroM  uml  a  half!  I 
made  twentv-thnM'  at  (}lou<'«'Mter,  an<l  thirtv-two  and  a  half  in 
liondon,  all  by  n'gular  common  law  business.  At  (JloiuH'ster 
wo  hiid  four  litigJitwl  apjK'als.  I  had  a  brief  in  each,  ami  in  two 
of  tliom  I  was  offered  briefs  on  both  sides.  We  had  one  most 
im]t()rtaMt  (piestionaM  to  the  rating  of  JM'ech  wimmIs  to  the  main- 
toniintM'  of  the  |)oor.  I  had  the  luck  to  be  on  th^'  winning  f*ide. 
I  likewise  got  considerable  applause  for  my  tlefencc^  of  n  l)oauti- 
ful  girl  indiete«l  f<u'  felony,  whom  the  jiny  aj^piittnl  e(mtrarv  to 
till!  directions  of  the  court.  I  have  had  no  reason  to  complain 
m\(\\  1  returne<l ;  and  in  short  I  don't  despair  of  meeting  with 
mueii  civility  and  attenti(»n  from  my  townsmen  of  Cupar,  which 
I  shall  not  fail  to  do  when  they  know  that  their  assistance  ain 
no  longer  \m  of  use  to  me. 


276 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1811. 


...  I  must  break  off  as  I  have  some  paj)er8  to  look  over  for 
to-morrow  morning.  I  dined  yesterday  with  the  leader  of  our 
circuit,  Mr.  Jervis.  MIhs  Jcrvis,  to  captivate  me,  played  'The 
yellow-haired  laddie,'  *  Ye  bank»  and  bmes  of  Imnnie  Doon,'  and 
a  great  number  of  other  Scotch  ail's*.  I  dare  say  she  had  been 
pnietising  them  constantly  for  a  week  on  purjwse.  You  see  my 
vanity  i«  not  to  be  repressed  by  Cupar  magistrates  and  Fife 
lairds. 

Temple,  June  19,1811. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  This  is  the  middle  of  Trinit}- 
term.  I  am  tolerably  busy.  Carstairs's  ciuise  stands  for  argu- 
ment on  Friday.  I  must  return  t  >  the  subject  of  implied  war- 
rants, 'that  a  ship  shall  be  projK'rly  documented  according  to  the 
law  of  nations  and  the  treaties  between  the  country  to  which  she 
belongs  and  foreign  states.'  * 

Temple,  July  11,  1811 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that 
Carstairs's  cause  has  been  decided  in  his  favor.  It  came  on  to 
be  ai'gued  on  Tuesday  the  25th  ultimo.  I  spoke  above  an  honr 
and  a  half  and  acquitted  myself  respectably.  The  question 
being  of  great  importance  and  nicety,  the  Court  took  time  to 
consider  till  the  2d  inst.,  when  they  gave  judgment  for  the 
defendant.  The  sum  insured  amounted  to  £22,000,  of  which 
the  underwriters  had  paid  £10,000  bcfoi'c  the  action  was  brought, 
80  that  they  save  only  £12,000.  There  was  one  man  who  had 
refused  to  settle  who  had  £1500  upon  the  ship  to  his  own  share. 
There  were  great  rejoicings  at  liloyd's  when  the  decision  was 
announced,  and  the  underwriters  pro})osed  to  give  me  an  extra- 
ordinary fee  of  one  per  cent,  upon  the  amount  of  their  subscrip- 
tions. I  put  a  stop  to  this  the  moment  that  I  heard  of  it.  I 
had  before  received  the  regular  professional  fee  of  five  guineas 
for  arguing  the  case,  and  I  could  not  with  propriety  accept  more 


*Be)l  V.  Carstairs,  14  East,  374,  the  first  great  insurance  cause  which  he 
argued. 


1811.] 


WINS  carbtair's  insurance  cause. 


977 


after  the  event.  This  piece  of  gcKxl  hick  may  get  me  some  City 
briefs — a  mutter  of  more  conwHiuence  than  money.  Both  Car- 
stairs  and  Blunt,  Avho  wn.s  the  uttttrney,  were  highly  pleased  and 
have  been  puffing  me  since  with  considerable  zeal. 

By  the  bye,  I  was  mutjh  amused  with  your  affectionate  hope 
that  *  if  I  persevered  in  reporting  Nisi  Prius  cases,  I  might  at  last 
be  known  as  a  lawyer.'  When  my  reputation  may  reach  Provost 
Fergusson  and  James  Stark  I  don't  exactly  know,  but  I  flatter 
myself  I  have  been  for  some  time  known  aa  a  lawyer  to  the 
twelve  judges  of  England,  to  the  English  bar,  and  to  every 
respectable  attorney  in  London.  It  is  no  bounce  that  I  had 
more  business  last  term  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bench  than  any 
man  of  my  standing.  Therefore  do  not  be  guided  entirely  by 
the  judgment  of  James  Stark.  Do  not  despond  if  Provost  Fer- 
gusson even  should  withhold  his  patronage,  but  rely  upon  it 
with  some  degree  of  confidence  that  I  shall  ai  last  be  known  as  a 
lawyer. 

I  dined  on  Sunday  at  Stratford  Green,  in  company  with  Pro- 
fessor Leslie.  I  saw  him  repeat  his  freezing  experiment  at  the 
Royal  Institution,  and  have  since  had  the  honor  to  entertain  him 
at  breakfast.  He  is  a  mighty  clever  man,  and  his  attainments 
are  stupendous.  He  reflects  gi'cat  lustre  upon  the  Fifian  penin- 
sula. 

I  subjoin  the  following  fashionable  epigram,  which  the  young 
ladies  may  not  have  seen : 

To  ready  Scotland  boys  and  girls  are  carried, 

By  passion  urged,  impatient  to  be  married ; 

But  wiser  grown,  to  the  same  land  they  run 

With  equal  haste  to  have  the  knot  undone. 

Kind  Scotland  thus,  where  England's  law  too  nice  is, 

Sanctions  our  follies  first,  and  then  our  vices. 


luse  which  he 


Shrewsbury,  August  11, 1811. 

My  dear  Father  : —  .  .  .  You  might  see  from  the  news- 
papers that  I  was  at  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Lords  upon  a  writ 
of  error.    Do  you  wish  to  know  whether  I  distinguished  myself? 


278 


LIFE  OP  IX)Rn  CAMPBELI,. 


[1811. 


Counsel  being  called  in  by  their  lorduhips  in  the  case  of  Carlen 
V.  Smith,  I  was  introduced  by  the  uuher  of  the  Black  Rod,  and 
made  my  three  obeisances.  Lord  Chancellor. — *  Mr.  Campbell, 
do  you  ap|)ear  for  the  defendant  in  error?'  Jack. — *My  lords, 
I  do.'  Lord  Chancellor. — *  Does  the  plaintiff  in  error  appear  ? ' 
Jack. — *  I  believe,  my  lords,  that  he  docs  not.'  Lord  Chancellor. 
— 'What  is  the  amount  of  your  costs?*  Jack. — 'I  am  instructed 
to  ask  for  j£120.'  iord  Chunceltor. — 'You  may  withdraw.' 
Judgment  was  immediately  affirmed  with  £120  costs.  For  this 
I  had  my  ten  guineas. 

Since  I  came  upon  the  circuit  I  have  had  a  mixture  of  good 
and  bad  luck,  but  the  former  has  considerably  preponderated. 
At  Gloucester,  the  gaol  was  'a  very  bad.  one'  (only  twelve 
prisoners).  I  was  in  one  civil  cause  which  excited  considerable 
interest.  The  action  was  brought  by  a  barber's  daughter  at 
Gloucester  against  a  Devonshire  squire  for  a  breach  of  promise 
of  marriage.  Hereford,  however,  is  the  place  that  will  be  for 
ever  memorable  as  the  scene  of  my  first  spreading  envy  and 
alarm  among  my  brother  oircuiteers.  Here  I  had  no  fewer  than 
three  briefs,  and  made  no  less  a  sum  than  twelve  guineas.  Two 
of  the  cases  Avere  trumpery  actions  of  assault.  The  third  was 
another  breach  of  promise  of  marriage,  and  would  have  afforded 
much  amusement ;  but,  unfortunately,  before  the  trial  came  on, 
the  gentleman  agreed  to  give,  and  the  lady  to  accept,  £100  as  a 
settlement  of  all  their  differences.  I  shall  have  had  a  little  histc 
of  business  at  every  place  upon  the  circuit. 

We  have  had  most  delightful  weather.  Coming  by  the  mail 
to  Worcester,  I  went  part  of  the  way  outside,  during  which  I 
heard  a  lively  sally  from  the  guard.  He  asked  me  how  the 
King  was.  I  answered  that  he  continued  very  ill,  and  that  he 
had  talked  nonsense  for  seventy  hours  without  stopping  for  a 
moment.  *  Lord,  sir,'  cried  the  guard, '  what  a  famous  counsellor 
he  would  have  made !  He'd  have  beat  you  all.'  I  have  walked 
no  inconsiderable  part  of  the  way.  For  instance,  Wednesday 
week  I  walked  from  Worcester  to  Great  Malvern  to  breakfast ; 
I  then  rambled  over  the  tops  of  the  Malvern  Hills,  from  which 


1811.] 


CALCUTTA  BAR  PROJECT. 


279 


you  may  at  once  see  Worcester,  Gloucester  and  Hereford  (I  pro- 
test the  view  w  little  inferior  to  that  from  the  Castle  Hill  at 
Cupar) ;  I  then  walked  to  the  Wells,  and  from  thence  to  Upton. 
There  I  dined  in  the  very  same  house  where  Tom  Jones  met 
with  so  many  adventures,  but  nothing  occurred  to  me  worthy  of 
being  recoi*ded.  ... 

Temple,  September  3, 1811. 

My  DEAR  George  : —  ...  I  have  only  one  motive  that  could 
influence  me  to  try  my  fortune  at  the  Calcutta  bar — which  is,  the 
prospect  of  meeting  you.  But  as  I  trust  we  shall  pass  many 
happy  days  together  in  England,  my  impatience  to  see  you  will 
not  lead  me  to  abandon  Westminster  Hall.  By  remaining  tliere, 
I  think  in  the  ordinary  estimate  of  human  life  I  shall  enjoy  a 
greater  share  of  respectability  and  happiness  than  I  should  do 
were  I  even  sure  to  amass  considerable  wealth  at  the  Calcutta 
bar.  But  my  success  there  would  be  somewhat  uncertain.  I 
really  believe  there  is  no  instance  of  any  barrister  with  as  much 
business  as  myself,  and  as  good  professional  prospects  at  home, 
going  out  to  practise  at  any  settlement  abroad.  Somewhat  more 
than  a  twelvemonth  ago  I  was  afraid  my  health  would  not  permit 
me  to  continue  my  labors  in  London.  I  had  an  attack  of  the 
yellow  jaundice  and  had  some  reason  to  apprehend  that  my  con- 
stitution had  suffere<l.  But  by  country  air,  exercise  and  calomel, 
I  soon  got  well,  and  have  since  enjoyed  perfect  health,  to  which 
my  new  chambers  have  not  a  little  contributed.  At  present  I 
have  a  fair  prospect  of  being  able  to  persevere  in  my  present 
career,  and  I  l>elieve  it  is  for  my  interest  to  do  so.  I  thought  it 
right  to  satisfy  you  upon  this  point,  and  I  know  it  will  gratify 
you  to  find  that  my  views  correspond  with  your  own. 


Temple,  November  11, 1811. 

My  dear  Father: — I  have  the  pleasure  to  receive  both 
your  lettei"s  of  the  14th  and  31st  ultimo.  That  entrusted  to 
Wilkie  he  sent  me  by  the  twopenny  post.  I  thus  remain  entirely 
ignorant  of  the  place  of  his  residence,  which  I  regret  veiy  much. 


280 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBKLL. 


[1811. 


I  have  a  great  regard  for  him,  and  should  be  extremely  happy 
to  keep  up  a  friendly  intercourse  witli  a  young  man  so  amiable 
and  80  eminent  in  his  art.  If  Dr.  Baillie  had  thought  it  requi- 
site this  time  twelvemonth  that  he  should  go  into  a  warm  climate, 
I  had  made  arrangements  to  furninh  him  with  the  mcuuH  of 
doing  so  with  the  most  iMjrfoct  delicacy  to  his  feelings.  I  men- 
tion this  confidentially,  merely  to  obviate  an  impression  you 
seem  to  have  taken  up,  that  I  feel  no  interest  in  his  fate. 

I  do  assure  you  upon  my  honor  that  I  heard  with  the  liveliest 
satisfaction  that  you  were  laying  out  the  money  I  had  repaid 
you  in  buying  new  furniture,  which  I  was  well  aware  you  very 
much  wanted.  I  was  silent,  that  more  might  not  Ix;  said  about 
a  matter  which  had  already  overwhelmed  me  with  unmerited 
acknowledgments.  On  the  return  of  spring,  I  do  hope  you  will 
set  about  getting  yourself  a  proper  horse.  Above  all  things,  let 
him  Ije  sure-footed.  Don't  mind  giving  £10  or  £20  more  than 
you  would  be  inclinetl  to  do,  to  procure  an  animal  to  suit  you. 
We  are  rather  getting  up  in  the  world,  and  a  small  sum  of 
money  is  no  longer  an  object  to  us.  .  .  . 

Since  I  came  to  town,  commonplace,  humdrum  business  flows 
in  as  fast  as  I  could  reasonably  desire.  Rest  assurc<l  that  I  am 
quite  indeijendent  of  Fife  lairds  and  Cupar  bailies.  As  to  their 
Bill,  it  would  really  be  a  matter  of*  very  little  importance  to  me. 
Committee  business  has  l)ecome  a  distinct  department  in  the  pro- 
fession, and  is  by  no  means  a  good  one,  as  it  leads  to  nothing  and 
is  very  uncertain.  This  Bill  will  excite  no  notice ;  it  would  not 
be  known  to  six  people  with  whom  I  am  acquainted  that  I  had 
been  concerned  in  it,  and  it  would  never  get  me  another  brief. 
A  gootl  popular  traverse  at  Gloucester  would  be  of  much  more 
service  to  me.  The  only  thing  that  in  any  degree  interferes  with 
my  indifference  upon  the  subject,  is  that  I  am  grieved  to  see  a 
sort  of  slight  put  upon  you  in  parsing  me  by,  but  to  this  I  hope 
you  will  pay  very  little  attention. 

Temple,  December  11, 1811. 

My  dear  George  : —  ...  I  begin  to  be  oppressed  with  the 
cares  of  wealth.     Instead  of  lodging  my  surplus  cash  in  the 


1811.] 


INCREAHINO    BUSINESS. 


281 


funds,  I  think  I  shall  lay  it  out  in  books.  At  present  I  hnvo 
hardly  anything  but  law,  and  I  wish  very  much  to  have  a  good 
English  classical  library.  Bank  paper  may  be  deprcciate<l  ever 
80  much,  but  this  will  always  keep  its  value. 

...  I  dislike  the  intolerance  of  the  present  Ministers ;  but 
on  the  other  hand  I  approve  «)f  their  Penhmtfar  potici/.  Spain 
can  never  l)e  subjugated  by  Franc*  while  we  retain  posvsossion  of 
Portugal.  What  we  have  already  done  there  has  raised  the 
national  ciharacter  more  than  naval  victories,  and  I  think  we  aro 
now  in  a  Iwtter  condition  to  tarry  on  the  struggle  for  our  inde- 
pendence than  if  we  had  hmbanded  our  rrnourcct*,  and  kept  all 
our  army  at  home. 

I  look  with  eagerness  for  law  promotions.  Without  an  open- 
ing made  by  some  men  being  withdrawn  from  the  field,  one's 
progress  must  be  slow  and  painful. 

Toinple,  December  31,  1811. 

My  dear  George  : —  .  .  .  You  need  no  longer  delay  your 
return  for  my  making  £500  a  year.  In  1811  (including.'  JGIOO 
for  my  book)  I  have  made  above  double  that  siun.  The  fees 
upon  my  business  amount  to  £948  9«.  There  is  necessarily  a 
considerable  share  of  uncertainty  in  the  future,  and  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  say  what  reverses  I  may  meet  with ;  but  I  believe  I  may 
rationally  expect  that  my  business  should  increase  rather  than 
diminish.  Thanks  to  a  kind  Providence,  I  am  now  placed  in  a 
creditable  situation  for  life,  in  which  I  am  almost  sure  of  a  com- 
petence ;  and  whatever  my  ulterior  smn-ess  may  be,  I  shall  be 
contented. 

...  In  these  times  lawyers  are  the  only  men  who  thrive. 
From  bankruptcies,  and  from  the  new  questions  arising  out  of 
irregular  trading,  the  number  of  causes  trie<l  at  Guildhall  has 
been  doubled.  We  were  obliged  at  Christmas  to  adjourn  to  the 
7th  of  January.  I  expect  then  to  come  in  for  a  slmre  of  the 
plunder.  On  the  14th  I  go  down  to  Gloucester  to  attend  the 
quarter  se&sions,  for  which  I  have  two  retainers.     Do  you  know 


what  a  retamei^  is  ? 
vol..  r. 


When  a  man  has  a  cause  coming  on,  he  is 
12* 


282 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1811. 


frightened  out  of  his  wite  lest  you  should  be  against  liim ;  he 
therefora  as  soon  as  possible  sends  you  a  guinea  with  a  bit  of 
paper  mentioning  the  name  of  the  cause,  and  thereby  socurex 
you  on  his  side  when  the  trial  arrives.  Nothing  I  have  met 
with  flatters  me  w  much  as  a  retainer  from  persons  I  never 
heard  of  before. 


1812.] 


r;BTAINfiO  IN  AN  IMPOBTAiri  OABM. 


283 


CHAPTER  X. 

FlBMOAXr,  1812— DlOEMBIB,  1814. 

Aocouat  of  the  Spring  Circuit— Asaasnination  of  Mr.  Perceval — Raid  into 
Monmouthshire — Victory  at  the  Quarter  Segaiont — Goes  as  ARoeaior  to 
the  Returning  Officer  at  the  Cironceater  Election— Lord  Apaley,  Mr. 
llicka-Beach,  and  Mr.  Crippa— Joaeph  Pitt — Brougham — Horner — Lord 
KUenborough'a  Conduct  to  the  Bar — Staya  in  London  through  the  Long 
Vacation,  and  Learni  to  Dance— Diaaatera  of  Bonaparte — Rejoicings  in 
London — The  Emperor  Alexander — Caae  of  Murder  at  Stafford — Tin  tern 
Abbey — Meeting  with  hia  Father  at  Cupar— The  new  Actreas,  Miaa 
O'Neil — Victory  over  Ellenborough — The  Verulam  Club. 


Temple.  February  13, 1812. 

My  deab  Father: —  .  .  .  Once  more  let  me  assure  you 
that  I  am  quite  independent  of  '  Fife  lairds  and  Cupar  bailies.' 
You  may  tell  them  with  truth  that  I  have  more  business  in  the 
King's  Bench  than  any  one  man  of  my  standing,  that  I  am 
making  above  £1000  a  year,  and  that  upon  any  opening  takliifj; 
place  in  the  court  my  income  is  likely  to  be  doubled.  You 
know  I  am  not  given  to  boasting,  and  in  general  I  would  rather 
check  than  elevate  your  hopes,  but  I  think  it  nccessaiy  to  hint 
at  my  situation  for  once,  lest  you  should  fall  into  complete  des- 
pair because  I  am  not  employed  by  the  bailies  of  Cupar  to  suj)- 
port  their  Prison  Bill.  No  longer  ago  thau  yesterday  I  was 
retained  in  a  ca.se  of  much  more  importance  where  I  shall  make 
more  money  and  accjiiire  more  information.  This  i.s  an  appeal 
from  one  of  the  West  India  islands  to  the  Privy  Council.  If 
it  please  God  to  give  me  life  and  health  I  shall  get  on  without 
any  extraordinary  patronage.  Although  you  do  not  read  my 
name  in  the  newspapers,  rest  satisfied  that  I  am  laying  a  sure 
foundation  for  future  eminence. 


284 


MFK  OF   LOItl)  CAMPHKM. 


[1812. 


Tflmplc  Mnn-h  :\,  IS  12 

My  DKAii  Fatiieu:—  .  .  .  TheupiK-ul  Ih  fnmi  the  iHluiid  of 
Curuciio.  It  iH  nut  likely  to  Im*  hmrd  for  inontliM  to  conic,  On 
nccount  of  my  cliuntH  not  liuvinK  ho  numy  aiuscs  I  huvu  not  liud 
quite  tH>  tnuny  briefs  tit  tlienc  xittin^  as  tlie  liu^t,  hut  there  \»  no 
(Ictiertiou  union};  them,  and  as  yet  I  {Hiceive  no  !<ym[itonm  of  u 
dei^line.  I  this  morning  le<l  u  cauye  of  uonie  (•onHe«|U')ii((>  ut 
Guildhull.  The  action  wtus  for  running  down  a  Hhip.  I  wsm  by 
myBclf  for  the  defendant.  The  nn^ritH  were  (juitc  nguinnt  me 
and  I  woa  beaten,  but  I  wa«  thought  to  actjuit  myself  cnxlitably 
in  examining  the  witnesses  and  addressing  the  jury.  T  iM'lievo 
I  did  myself  go(xl. 

On  Saturday  night  1  go  by  the  Worcester  mail.  The  a[HK)int- 
ment  of  Counsel  to  the  Bank  on  the  circuit  was  at  lost  made  in 
a  way  rather  to  tantali/e  and  provoke  me.  Shepherd,  who  litid 
the  strongest  interest,  was  held  too  incompetent,  but  another  man 
quite  unobje<'tionable,  with  strong  City  connections  was  started. 
At  last  it  came  to  be  IkjIwccu  him  and  njyself.  In  the  Court  of 
Directors  after  u  goinl  deal  of  talk  it  was  agreed  that,  as  we  both 
api)eare<l  to  be  very  proper  men,  it  should  be  decided  by  si-nior- 
ity.  The  friend  of  Barnes,  the  other  candidate,  asserted  that  he. 
was  senior.  Davison,  my  patron  was  unable  to  c<<ntiadict  this, 
and  Barnes  was  appoint(.'<l.  In  point  of  fact  I  am  his  senior 
nearly  two  years.  I  thought  I  should  have  bet-n  able  to  yet  the 
matter  rectified,  but  found  that  the  votes  of  the  Bank  Directors, 
like  the  laws  of  the  Medes  and  Persians,  may  not  be  rescinded. 
The  appointment  is  of  far  more  conseijuence  to  Barnes  than  to 
me,  for,  though  a  sensible  man  enough,  he  will  never  get  any 
business  except  through  the  favor  of  friends. 


Gloucester.  April  1, 1812. 

My  dear  Father: — The  moment  I  arrived  here  on  Satur- 
day evening  I  ran  to  the  jwst-office  and  was  made  happy  by  your 
letter.  Amidst  the  envy,  jealousy,  mortification  and  disappoint- 
ment to  which  I  am  exposed  on  the  circuit,  the  language  of  affec- 


1812.] 


OOOD   LUCK  ON  TIIK  C'llU  UIT. 


2K5 


tion  and  c'iux)iimg(!ini>iit  imuing  from  the  imtcrnol  muiLsioii  iti 
|)tTuliui'ly  Miothing  tiiul  tlclightfiil. 

I  hnvc  hml  nioi'c  luck  upon  the  circuit  niiKc  1  left  Htutl'onl 
than  I  had  any  rfawon  to  ex|)eft.  At  Shrownhuiy  there  were 
only  six  cnurtOH  in  th(!  Civil  court,  hut  1  had  a  hricf  in  one  of 
th(!in  hy  niyrftilf  from  an  attorney  1  never  lieard  of  before.  This 
gave  me  an  ojiportunity  to  addrewn  the  jiuy  for  the  defendant, 
which  I  di<l  at  conniderahle  lengtli  and  with  Mome  eflcct.  I  was 
rallietl  by  my  learned  frini(ln  for  iK'ing  ho  eloquent  upon  a  hutch- 
e/»  hill!  In  the  Crown  court  I  was  in  a  proHocution  which  ex- 
cite<l  considerable  interest.  There  are  two  rival  attorneys  at 
Ludlow,  one  of  whom  htul  indicteil  the  other  for  an  assault 
committed  in  the  c^urne  of  i»rofcs8i«)nal  business.  I  was  counsel 
for  the  prosecutor.  The  trial  lasted  five  lumrs;  much  hard 
swearing  on  both  sides.  Our  witnesses  were  contradicted  {inter 
alien)  by  a  fox-hunting  parson,  whom  I  made  tolerably  ridicu- 
lous in  cross-examination,  and  licketl  with  great  severity  in  my 
reply.  Tin;  jiulge  summwl  uj)  nithcr  against  us,  but  to  my  un- 
speakable satisfaction  the  jury  after  five  minutes'  delil)eration 
returne<l  a  verdi(!t  oi'  </u!lty.  I  am  sure  I  felt  more  anxiety  dur- 
ing their  deliberation  than  three-fourths  of  the  prisonci-s  trie<l 
during  the  assizes  on  capital  charges.  I  went  to  the  public  read- 
ing room  in  the  evening,  where  I  was  congratulated  <m  the  result 
by  the  gentlemen  of  the  town,  and  particularly  complimented 
uiK)n  the  dressing  I  had  given  the  parson. 

When  I  arrived  here  no  one  had  called  for  me.  Saturday 
night  passed  away  and  no  one  called  for  me.  On  SiiMdny  I 
found  there  were  the  greatest  nund)er  of  causes  to  be  died  ever 
known  (no  fewer  than  sixty-four,  besides  sixty-seven  prisoners). 
At  three  o'clock  no  one  had  called  for  me.  Rap!  rap!  mp!  at 
the  door  eveiy  five  minutes.  *Is  Counsellor  Dauncey  arrived?' 
*Is  Counsellor  Dauncey's  clerk  within?'  'A  brief  for  Counsellor 
Dauncey.'  Not  a  word  for  me  I  Men  junior  to  me  had  got  briefs 
and  were  inquiring  for  mine.  I  was  in  the  deepest  despair.  Glou- 
cester! my  sessions  town!  where  I  had  exhibited  so  often!  which 
was  to  be  the  origin  of  all  my  success  on  the  circuit !  I  fully  antici- 


&$ 


286 


I.IPK  or   U)l(l>  rAMI'UKIJ., 


[1812. 


|Mit(>(l  tlu>  horror  ot'|^)iiig  into  court  next  luoriiin^j;  without  a  hmi^Ic 
briff  ill  my  hand.  The  iiiortitiiiitioii  attciuliiig  thin  you  iniuiot 
oiwily  (t)iu|>n'h(i)(l.  A  ^\r\  at  a  hall  who  nitr*  all  ni);ht  without 
a  luirtiirr,  while  her  rivalH  arc  taken  out  every  tlatxr,  |Mrhti|)H 
HutVerM  HoiiiethinK  like  it  iu  kind  thoufj;h  not  in  <lc^ree.  I  eiuxetl 
the  hour  I  ever  left  the  Home  circuit,  and  aInioMt  thought  lor  a 
moment  my  fate  wouhl  have  Ihi'ii  hardly  more  dcploralile  um  a 
metulKT  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  when  in  the  course  of  a  ((uarter 
oi'  an  hour  a  two  guinea  hrief,  a  ftair  guinea  iirivf,  and  a  live 
guinea  hrief  wen;  tund)led  down  u|)on  my  talde.  I  have  neither 
|Hi|M.!r  nor  time  to  relate  particularly  my  exploitH  at  (}l(Micef<ter. 
It  irt  enough  to  my  I  have  Ihi'ii  extremely  lucky.  I  have  had  a 
very  gtxxl  sprinkling  of  huniness  in  both  ctairts  and  I  have  done 
it  Hntisfactorily.  After  a  long  altercation  with  Marshall,  I  niadu 
him  completely  itHtant  some  Imd  law  which  would  have  han^'cd 
my  client,  by  insisting  that  his  lordship  should  take  a  note  of  iny 
objection  for  the  opinion  of  the  twelve  judges.  And  on  the  civil 
side,  iu  a  case  of  some  interest  iu  which  I  was  with  Dauneey,  I 
originated  and  supporttnl  a  |M)int  which  got  us  the  verdict,  although 
at  consultation  wc  thought  we  had  not  a  leg  to  stand  upon. 

Ft'iduif,  April  Sd. —  .  .  .  This  morning,  by  availing  myself 
of  Home  absurditicHof  the  Knglish  law,  I  got  otV  a  man  indicted 
for  burglary.  He  had  broken  into  a  h«)use  iu  ihc  inght  time  and 
stolen  two  grates  antl  a  lurnacc.  Hut  as  these  things  were  adixcd 
to  th^  fre<'hold,  I  contended  they  were  not  the  subject  of  larceny, 
and  as  the  prisoner  did  not  conuiut  felouy  by  actually  taking 
them,  it  was  not  burglary  to  break  into  a  luaise  for  that  purpose. 
I  had  some  difficulty  in  driving  this  into  the  judge ;  but  he  at 
last  directed  an  aciiuittal,  and  my  client  got  off  Hcof  free. 

I  am  most  heartily  sick  of  a  circuit  life.  For  a  whole  month 
I  have  betjii  living  in  a  mob.  Instead  of  the  luxuricais  dinners 
and  desserts  to  which  we  daily  sit  down,  I  should  lie  most  happy 
to  have  in  njy  chambers  in  the  Temple  a  slice  of  cold  meat,  a 
crust  of  brciul  and  a  glaas  of  water.  I  am  likewise  (piite  tired 
of  the  society.  Our  men  talk  of  little  else  but  of  the  business 
done  in  the  court,  and  who  is  getting  on  and  who  is  falling  off, 


1812.] 


HAVra    AN   INXfX^KNT   MAN'm   LIFE. 


287 


iibiiHiiig  aiwl  lNic'kl)itiii)(  ow  nnothcr.  Tli«>n>  \n  oii<>  thin)(  to  Im 
(■oiiHMlcml,  that  on  my  rt'turning  to  liOiidoii  my  im|)ortaii<<o  in 
tiuwt  mntcrinlly  lowered.  You  dui  hiinlly  inia){iiie  witli  what 
n'H|M'<*t  n  Loiiilon  onunnffhr  in  hntUM  up  to  in  the  country,  even 
by  tlu'  higher  orderM. 

That  you  may  not  almw>  my  vanity  for  nothin^i^,  I  nuiHt  tell 
you  of  the  chane*'  I  had  of  the  (^lory  of  In-in^^  brought  on  aH|H><'ial 
retainer  to  the  Bristol  piol  delivery.  A  man  wan  indieteil  thero 
iilHMit  a  fortnight  ago  for  forgery.  Ife  had  retaintnl  the  prineipal 
nun  who  atten<l  to  defend  him,  and  a  letter  wiih  written  to  In) 
nent  to  me,  then  at  Shrewnhury,  to  requeHt  that  I  would  <'ome  to 
prorttM'Ute.  I  [owever,  b«ffon>  the  letter  was  put  Into  the  |M)Ht  office, 
the  priHoher  gave  notice  that  he  meant  to  pleud  guilty,  which  ho 
did  accordingly. 

Thin  epistle  reminds  me  nuieh  of  'the  memoirs  of  P.  P.  clerk 
(»f  this  parish,  who  writeth  this  history.'  If  by  any  fatality  it 
sliouM  fall  into  th<'  hinds  of  my  brother  eircuitejci's  they  wouhl 
Im>  amus(>d  with  this  iiistiinct;  of  tlu;  importance  of  a  man  to  hirn- 
nelf  and  hiM  father.  Thv,  (!ircumstanc<M  I  have  recordeil  tliey 
hardly  notictul  while  imssing  and  they  instantly  forgot.  Never- 
theless the  narrative  will  please  you  if  you  are  sincere  in  what 
you  have  said;  if  you  are  not,  you  are  justly  punished. 

April  I'Uh. — To  show  you  that  I  can  take  an  interest  in  matters 
which  do  not  wncern  my  own  advancement,  I  conclude  with  the 
tale  of  my  saving  an  inmnvnt  man  from  the  gallows — without 
brief  or  fee.  '  A  chimney  sweeper  was  tried  before  Marshall  for 
the  nuuder  of  his  apprentice.  He  had  treatc<l  the  boy  with  some 
harshneas,and  there  were  most  violent  prejudices  against  him.  Ho 
had  lately  (!ome  into  Gloucestershire,  and  it  was  currently 
reported  and  Ixjlicved  that,  instigiited  by  the  devil,  he  had 
{inter  alia)  committed  all  the  recent  mysterious  nnirders  in 
Ratt^liffe  Highway,  and  had  assumed  the  disguise  of  a  chimney 
sweep  for  concetUment.  He  had  no  counsel.  Marshall,  as 
judge,  instead  of  combating  those  prejudices,  was  himself 
carried  away  by  them,  and  with  perfect  gootl  intentions  de- 
livered a  most  murderous  charge  to  the  jury.    They  immediately 


988 


Lirr  or  ixmit  campiikm.. 


[1812. 


«li'livvrv<|  ill  n  vi>nlii't  of  ytiiV/y,  \\\uvU  tli«>y  Imd  t'uniii'«i  in 
their  own  iiiIihIm  U't'on*  hiiiriii)(  ii  W)»nl  oC  fvidnicc.  'I'lif  priit- 
oiK'r  lm«l  no  inon>  Im>«>ii  guilty  of  iiiiinitr  tliiin  of  witrliiTiift.  I 
wiiH  f4|iiN'ki>(l  lM>yoiMi  «>x|ir«'HMioii  to  liiur  th«>  iiiiin  Hi'iitciu-iil  to  In> 
liiiii^^nl  nixi  luiiitoiiiJM'd  >vitliiii  forty-ci^lit  lioiiix.  S<»oii  aft«>r  ilM> 
trill!  wiiM  ovtT  I  ^ot  up  and  H|N)k<'  privatrly  to  MuriHlmiJ  wlijlo  \u> 
><iit  ii|Miii  tilt!  In>ii(*Ii.  Ur);i>4l  liy  iiii  iiiitN>nitiv(*  ><«>iih«>  of  diitv,  I 
told  liim  my  mind  very  frt><'ly  and,  ntiipitiilatiii};  tlic  HiilMtaiut' 
of  the  ovidt'iKT  Fthowtil  him  that  the  priMuicr'n  otli'iKH'  ■•mild  not 
nnioiint  to  murder,  lie  lieani  mi>  very  |Nitiontly  and  Haid  li«> 
hIiouM  I'did  over  hin  iioteH  to  Haroii  WimnI.  Next  morning;  lii> 
(■omplaiiuHl  that  (roni  what  I  had  naid  he  hiul  not  nlept  a  wink, 
and  that  the  prinoner  wiw  in  u  nion;  enviahle  ^«ittlation.  Tli<> 
iiian  Imh  lM>eii  respited  and  will,  I  Utlievo,  riKieiv*!  a  inirdon. 

Temple,  Mkjr  lA  |ni2 

My  nEAit  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  The  town  is  Mtill  in  a  ureateon- 
^tcrnation  on  a<*('ouiit  of  the  asiHtiMsination  of  Mr.  I'fn-eval.* 
liefore  I  left  Wi'MtiniiiMter,  where  1  have  lM>en  all  the  nioniiii^, 
>ve  heard  that  Iielliny:hani  had  Imtii  eonvietnl  and  wan  M'titencetl 
to  Ih>  executeil  in  I'alace  Yard  on  Mon«lay  morning.  1  iiiuh'r- 
Htand,  however,  that  the  trial  in  still  ^oin^^  on.  There  can  Ih;  no 
question  as  to  his  ('onvi(!tioii.  Had  Peni^val  fallfii  down  dead  in 
H  fit,  I  sluuild  not  have  heen  at  all  sorry  for  the  tfvent,  tiisipprov- 
ing  entirely  of  his  principles  and  views  as  a  statesman,  Init  tho^M! 
])rineip!es  and  views  will  rather  Im!  strengthened  by  the  inanner 
of  his  death,  and  from  the  sentiments  it  exeit«»s  among  the  ill-diH- 
pose<l,  there  is  no  saying  to  what  serenes  of  eonfusion  and  l)l»M»d- 
shed  it  may  lead.  The  Nottingham  Inrnfircs  exeeetl  any  of  the 
atrocities  of  the  French  Revolution.  And  we  are  in  such  hands! 
The  Prince  has  not  yet  sent  for  anyone  to  make  a  new  Adminis- 
tration. The  feud  Injtween  Castlereagh  and  Canning  will  probably 
prevent  Lord  Wellesley  from  coming  in.  Ho  will  not  sacrifice 
Canning,  and  Lady  Hertford  will  not  sacrifice  Castlereagh,    I 


•Shot  through  the  heart  with  a  pistol  by  Bellingham,  May  11, 1812.— Eo. 


1812.J 


UAIiltoH    AI'ltMNTKI*  N>|.l('in)IH»K.NK,IIAI.. 


3«9 


believe  ttii  nt(«>iii|>t  will  In*  iiituli>  to  fft  on  without  tlio  ncmwiot. 
of  any  n«>w  Mtrcii){tli  lo  tli<'  Ciiliinft,  Imt  tlii^  m*«>iiim  wholly  iin|M)M- 
nihil*, UN  IVi-ifviil  liiiH  t'urrit'il  with  him  till  th«>  little  tiilont  hiii 
|Mrty  nuilil  lHNu«t  of.  An  the  Oppoftitioii  havo  lutcly  lNi>n  al>u»- 
Inj;  tho  IVin<'<>  v<>ry  H«Miri'ilMii<4|y  I  nhotiM  not  Ih>  Hiir|>riNo«i  if  hu 
went  to  tiikc  thrtn  into  Ihn  «'«)till<li<ti('(>  un«l  tn  at  thcii)  with,  kind- 
noNH,  till  th<>y  a'jain  taik  of  him  with  Motn«>  r«'N|M><'t.* 

Tomplo,  June  21),  |H|1 

My  Dkau  (Jkokof.: —  .  .  .  Harrow  hiw  U<<»n  a|)|M)into<l 
8()li«'itor-(it'iu'ral,  hut  n«)  nrw  silk  ^owun  havo  y«'t  Inn-n  tnmlo, 
without  which  juuiorN  will  «h<rivi>  no  a<lvanta);(>  from  tho  jiroim.- 
tion.  Wi'  all'  now  holiliu);  the  Hiffinj,'^  af'tiT  tiTin  (that  in,  tryinj? 
onuHi>M  hy  jury)  at  WiNtminstiT,  iluriiij;  whiih  I  am  invariahly  in 
a  ili'H|)onilin)j;  intMHl,  tor  they  Kctilom  priMluri'  nu>  n  hrirf.  All 
my  I'liontN  ari'  in  tlw  <  'ity.  I  havi'  no  nputation  at  tin*  wi'nt  onil 
of  thi>  town.  Thu  (!ity  hiixini'SN  iN  hy  tar  thi'  mont  r(>N|N>i*tnhlo 
mill  nioMt  profitahlo,  hut  tlioi-o  is  no  hiii'Ii  thiny;  iin  rontnit  in  thin 
world.  It  striki"*  m  as  nithor  hani  anil  iliwiturajri"}?  that  nft«r 
my  \t}nf^  ami  luhorioiis  attomlaiiro  at  WoNtmiiiNtiT,  thi>r(>  Hhoiild 
Iw  two  or  thri'i'  humlriHl  cauws  to  ho  trii'il  tliiri;  without  my  hav- 
ing a  hricf  in  ono  of  thoni. 

Tuinplu,  July  1,  1H12. 

Mv  Dkak  Fatiikii: —  .  .  .  There  w  no  Huyinfir  when  the 
irreHolut<'  Klilon  may  iIoimiIi;  upon  making  any  nuw  Kin^'H  (!oun- 
eel.  Marryat  Iiim  now  u  hotter  chancu  of  promotion  than  he  ever 
had  iKifore.  It  huH  U^cn  mippoHod  that  Lord  KllL'nlM)rou)th  hwl 
a  Hpitti  a^aiuHt  him  and  would  put  n  tipokc  in  Iuh  whciil,  hut  on 
Hiiturday  hu^t  he  gained  over  liiti  lordrthip'H  heart  hy  entertainin); 
him  with  a  turtle  drenwHl  in  the  lii^hiiHtHtylc  by  a  cook  from  the 
liondon  Tavern.  You  probably  know  that  our  chief  1^  a  tre- 
mendous ffourmand.  Am  to  turtle,  he  beats  every  alderman  in 
the  city  of  London  by  three  plat<!S.  There  i.s  no  legal  writer  he 
i«  80  fond  of  as  '  Coke's  Works.'     Marryat's  turtle  he  declared 

*The  old  Ministry  went  on  under  the  Earl  of  Liverpool. — Ed, 
VOL.  I.  13 


290 


LIKE  OF   U)HV  CAMl'llKM,. 


[1812. 


the  l)etit  m>»8()iuKl  hu  hod  (umUhI  for  a  twi^lvciiiontli,  tiiiii  in  coiiMi- 
(lucntt',  he  will  sih'oimI  inHh'iul  ot'  «n)|>(>Hin^  Miirryat's  u|»|)li(>4iti()n 
for  a  Hilk  guwn. 

T'lMiili'  Aii^iM  2\,  1S12, 

My  ]>KAlt  ]{lC(>TiiKlt: —  ...  I  lt'«;l  ni(H'««  tlitiii  iwiuilly  dere- 
lict juHt  at  prt'si'iit.  'V\w  Imstlo  of  IjiisiiicsH  Iim.h  coiiiiijctcly  .sul)- 
tiidcnl,  and  nty  actpmintunco  arc  almost  all  oii(  of  town.  1  liuvo 
been  amusing  mys((lf  by  taking  sonx!  lessons  in  riding  iVoni  ua 
untinont  master,  and  still  more  by  laying  the  foundation  of  a 
gooil  English  library.  I  have  bought  above  jCKM)  worth  of  the 
Hrst  writers  in  our  language.  Do  you  renuMuber  our  father's 
library — thretMnld  volumes  of  th(>  Spectator,  two  of  'J'oin  Jt)ne.s, 
Thomson's  Seasons,  and  Miss  iJetsy  'riioughllcss?  1  hardlv 
know  huw  I  acquired  my  taste  for  reading.  1  suppose  from  the 
difficulty  of  indulging  it.  1  longed  for  books  as  1  longvd  fur 
peaches.  1  can  hardly  express  to  you  (he  delight  i  have  lately 
had  in  perusing  once  more  Hume  and  (iibbon.  The  pleasure 
may  Ihj  heightened  from  the  eircumstane«!  of  thiu'opies  being  my 
own  i>roperty  and  the  fruit  of  my  own  industry. 

.  .  .  Two  other  barristers  and  myself  mean  henceforth  to 
pmctice  at  the  quarter  sessions  for  the  <;ounty  of  Monmouth, 
which  have  hitherto  been  atteiuled  oidy  by  attorneys.  We  havo 
got  tin'  justices  to  make  an  order  that  we  shall  have  exoliisivo 
audience.  1  am  senior,  and  I  shall  be  a  greftt  n)an — a  sort  of 
village  (Jarrow.  I  do  not  think  1  have  y<>t  said  anything  to  you 
of  my  success  lust  circuit.  It  wiw  not  nnieh  to  boast  of,  although 
alfording  no  room  for  despondency.  I  made  a.s  niiKih  monoy  a.s 
paid  n»y  expeuses — near  iitJt).  1  anuised  the  ]>octor  with  au 
account  of  the  little  causes  in  which  I  was  engaged ;  l)ut,  posi- 
tively, I  do  not  thiidv  that  any  part  of  my  narrative!  could  anuiso 
any  other  rational  being.  1  hope  Mton  U)  have  you  to  go  a  circuit 
with  me.  1  long  daily  more  and  more  for  your  return,  ^^'llea 
I  meet  with  luck  1  wish  you  to  see  my  prosperity,  and  in  adverse 
fortune  I  stand  in  need  of  your  comfort  and  support. 


1812.] 


RAID    [KTO   MONMOIITIIHIIIRK. 


291 


My  DKAU  Fatiikk: —  .  .  .  By  this  hour  1  HiippoMc^tlu!  (chan- 
cellor hius  put  th«!  seal  to  th<'  priM'hiiiiatioii  for  dissolviiif;  Parlia- 
ment. Tli(!r(;  is  Mtill  a  possiltiiity,  an<l  lait  a  poHsihility,  of  my 
bcini^  cinployi^l  in  some  (piartcr.  I  have  1m<(<ii  ra;^|ri)|^  election 
law  very  hanl  Hinre  my  return  from  jtri^liton  ; — an  acecHHion  of 
knowledf^e  must  alwayn  he  a  heiieflt.  On  Sat n r< lay  even! nj;  I 
stJirt  l)y  the  mail  for  IJsk.  Tlie  plot  is  thickening  there  very 
fa«t.  Th<(  Monmouthshire  att<»rney.s  have  pr(!rtentc<I  a  petition 
to  the  ehairman  of  the  sessionM,  jirayinj;  that  they  may  retain 
tlu'ir  privilef^e  of  praetiirin^  iis  advm'atcH;  and  from  ho  pcitty  a 
canHO  the  eounty  seeniH  to  he  (piite  in  an  uproar.  I  am  not  at  all 
dismayed.  I  fear  the  first  trip  will  not  he  very  proiitahle,  but 
we  must  tiltimately  pn^vail. 

Tdtnplo,  Octobor  13. 1812. 

My  DKAU  Fathku: — T  l)elieve  you  expect  some  acmnnt  of 
my  raki  into  Monnlouthshi^^  On  the;  eveninj^  of  Saturday  the 
3(1, 1  starteil  in  the  Gloucester  mail  alonp;  with  Conant,  son  of 
the  Bow  Street  magistrate.  W(!  arrived  at  (Jloueester  next  day 
about  twelve.  Not  heing  ahle  to  get  j)Ia<;es  in  tlu;  Welsh  mail, 
we  took  a  post-chaise  to  Usk.  Tlu;  roads  wtvv.  dreadfully  ba<l 
and  we  did  not  arrive  till  nine.  This  is  ii  most  miserable  town, 
though  lying  in  the  midst  of  the  nujst  beaut ifid  country  my  ey«' 
over  beheld.  We  found  as  wc  |)ass('d  alony,'  that  our  visit  was 
expected,  but  there  wen;  no  briefs  or  i-etainers  for  us  on  our 
arrival.  We  couhl  not  think  of  attempting  to  get  habitable 
lo<lgings,  so  we  nimuined  at  the  *  Thrcic  Salmons,'  the  only  house 
in  town  (Unserving  the  name  (»f  an  inn.  Our  ('oadjutor  Price, 
who  is  a  native  of  the  country,  soon  joine<]  us,  and  with  the  helj) 
of  jmneh  we  contrived  to  k-'cj)  iip  our  spirits  notwithstiuiding 
our  situation. 

Early  next  morning  the  attorneys  began  to  arrive,  but  instead  of 
applying  to  us  they  S(!owled  upon  tis  most  dreadfully,  and  seemed 
much  disposed  to  throw  u.s  into  the  river.  They  stationed  them- 
selves outside  the  inn  dooi-,  and  the  moment  a  magistrate  appeared 


292 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1812. 


they  canvassed  him  for  his  vote  and  interest  in  their  favor.  One 
or  two  magistrates  paid  their  respects  to  us,  and  expres8e<l  a  deter- 
mination to  sup|K)rt  us,  but  (cloven  o'cloi'k  arrived  and  we  had 
no  symptom  of  business,  and  the  {jjoncnd  appeunince  of  things  was 
exceedingly  hostile.  The  court  then  sat.  We  marched  in  rol)od 
and  wigged — to  the  no  small  aniusoinent  of  many  Welshmen, 
who  never  saw  human  iK'ings  so  disguisi'<l  l>efore.  I,  as  senior, 
headed  our  little  band,  carrying  a  blue  bag  filled  tcith  booh. 
We  took  post  under  the  bench,  <lisplacing  our  opponents  from 
the  ground  they  had  occupied.  The  chairman,  Sir  Robert  Salis- 
bury, oixlered  the  Clerk  of  the  l*eiice  to  read  the  resolution 
adopted  at  the  adjourned  sessions  at  Momnouth,  whereby  it  was 
orderefl  that  barristers  should  have  exclusive  audience.  This 
being  done,  a  magistrate  rose  and,  after  a  long  speech  iji  favor 
of  the  attorneys,  moved  that  this  resolution  be  rescinded.  I'hc 
motion  was  seconded  by  another  orator,  and  a  regular,  or  ijitlier 
irregular  debate  began.  The  best  speaking  was  decidedly  with 
the  advei*se  party.  T  fiilt  a  very  strong  inclination  to  address 
the  court ;  but  I  thought  it  more  for  our  dignity  not  to  interfere. 
Lord  Arthur  Somerset,  member  for  the  county  and  brother  of 
the  Lord-Lieutenant,  rather  regretted  that  the  resolution  had 
been  adopted  so  suddenly,  but  wished  to  leave  the  matter  to  the 
resident  magistrates.  At  last  they  came  to  a  vote,  when  there 
»ippeared  for  the  motion  seven,  against  it  ten.  I  then  delivered 
a  short  address  in  the  name  of  the  bar,  which  was  generally 
approved  of.  I  most  seriously  thought  for  some  time  that, 
although  we  had  come  down  upon  a  recorded  resolution  of  the 
court,  of  which  the  chairman  had  delivered  me  a  copy  in  his 
own  handwriting,  we  should  be  obliged  to  make  our  bow  and 
withdraw.  You  may  see  how  ticklish  it  was,  as  we  had  a 
majority  of  only  thrt>e.  Had  the  decision  been  the  other  way,  I 
should  have  incurred  infinite  ridicule.  What  were  the  poor 
attorneys  now  to  do,  being  gagged  for  evermore?  They  retired 
and  compromised  privately  as  many  things  as  they  could,  but 
some  could  not  be  smothered.  Several  briefs  were  immediately 
lianded  over  to  me.     Thei*e  were  only  three  contested  matters 


1812.]       ASSESSOR  AT  THE  0IRKNCE8TER   KLECTION. 


293 


which  canio  Ix'forc  tho  ronrt.  T  wi»h  wron}^  in  {mint  of  law,  but 
Huccceded  in  each  of  thoin.  I  felt  some  nunorse  of  conscience, 
but  there  was  no  perversion  of  subrttuntial  justice.  Before  leav- 
ing the  court  I  received  a  retainer  for  next  sessions.  I  made 
nine  guineas,  Pricjc  two,  Conant  one. 

The  magistrates  invited  u^'to  dinner,  an<l  treated  us  with  the 
utmost  possible  <'onsideration  and  politeness.  In  return  for  the 
kindness  we  exi)erieneed  T  saved  the  magistrates  from  getting 
into  a  scrajMi.  They  were  al)out  to  order  the  OAvners  of  the  ship 
moored  to  Chepstow  bridge,  whicli  causeil  the  dismal  accident 
you  may  have  road  of  in  the  newspapers,  to  be  indicted,  till  I 
showed  them  the  owners  were  not  liable  (criminally,  and  per- 
suaded them  to  direct  the  prosecution  to  be  carried  on  against  the 
master  and  ihe  pilot.  We  sat  up  drinking  with  a  few  that 
renmincd  till  past  midnight. 

Next  morning  we  set  off  for  Gloucester.  We  breakfasted  at 
Raglan,  and  I  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  castle  which 
8to(xl  such  a  famous  siege  in  the  civil  wars.  T  was  delighted 
beyond  measure ;  but  do  not  be  afraid  T  am  going  to  encroach 
upon  the  privileges  of  the  Welsh  tourists  by  attempting  to 
describe  it.  This  day  we  had  a  very  j)leasant  journey.  The 
country  through  which  we  travelled,  particularly  on  the  banks 
of  the  river  Wye,  certainly  combines  riches  with  picturesque 
beauty  to  a  degree  hardly  conceivable  to  one  ac(iustometl  only  to 
English  or  Scottish  scenery.  Our  victory,  you  may  be  sure,  was 
tallced  over  with  great  exultation,  and  what  added  not  a  little  to 
our  hilarity  Avas  meeting,  near  Ross,  Taunton,  the  leader  of  the 
Gloucester  sessions,  going  down  to  the  Pend)roke  election.  We 
did  not  get  to  Gloucester  till  past  six.  On  going  to  my  lodgings 
I  found  the  following  letter  lying  on  my  table : 

'Sin: — We  shall  have  a  contest  for  this  borough,  and,  nnfortunatoly  for  me, 
I  am  the  returning  officer.  Circumstanced  as  1  am,  I  would  wish  to  have  an 
assessor  or  assistant,  and  if  you  will  umlertake  this  office  for  mo  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  you.  You  will  have  very  little  trouble  As  the  election  will  com 
mence  tomorrow  at  ten,  you  had  better  come  here  this  evening.  I  am,  Sir, 
your  most  obedient  servant,  Joseph  Pit*. 

'Cirencester,  Monday  morning.'  ' 


4- 


294 


LIFE  OF  LORD  OAMPOELL. 


[1812. 


Before  going  further  I  must  tell  you  suiiiething  of  Joseph 
Pitt.  He  used  to  hold  gentlemen's  horses  for  ii  penny ;  when, 
appearing  a  sharp  lad,  an  attorney  took  a  fancy  to  him,  and  brecl 
him  to  his  own  buMiness.  I'itt  s(M)n  wrapod  together  a  little 
money  by  his  pnuitice  in  the  law,  and  by  ih-greeH  entered  into 
speculations  as  a  brewer,  a  banker,  a  farmer,  and  a  land-jobkr. 
Everything  has  thriven  with  him.  lie  ha?*  now  a  (tlear  laudwl 
t!8tate  of  je20,()00  a  year,  and  returns  four  members  to  Parlia- 
ment. He  has  Ijcsides  two  magnificent  houses,  one  of  the  best 
libraries  in  the  kingdom,  and  £10,000  worth  of  pictures.  On 
such  a  scjde  are  things  (;onducted  in  England.  He  may  be  con- 
sidered the  man  of  the  same  (;hu«s  here  as  your  friend  Christie  in 
Fifeshire,  who  I  suppost;  has  realized  well  on  to  XlOOO  a  yciu* 
in  the  same  way,  has  great  influence  in  the  election  of  the  Cupar 
bailies,  and  has  got  the  portraits  of  two  of  his  sons  in  his  draw- 
ing-room. If  you  will  observe  that  this  letter  is  dated  *  Monday 
morning,' and  that  I  did  not  receive  it  till  Tticsday  evening,  you 
will  see  I  was  ratlu;r  in  a  perplexing  situatioi.,  for  one  day's  poll 
was  then  over,  and  if  tht;  election  was  going  on,  another  assessor 
was  probably  provided.  Therefore  I  could  not  go  to  Cirencester 
myself.  Yet  I  did  not  like  at  once  to  give  up  what  promised  to 
l)e  a  better  thing  than  even  the  lead  of  the  (quarter  sessions*, 
which  T  should  otherwise  have  had,  Ludlow  being  engaged  in 
the  election  at  Bristol.  I  therefore  judged  it  iKJst  to  send  an 
express  to  Cirencester  with  a  letter  for  Pitt,  saying  that  if  lie 
was  still  without  an  assessor  and  wished  my  assistance,  I  was 
ready  to  go  over.  Hetween  three  and  four  next  inorning  the 
man  returned  with  the  following  answer  : 

'Sir: — I  wish  1  could  hiivc  liail  your  aHsistnnci!  this  day,  but  half  p  loaf  is 
better  than  no  broad,  and,  theioforc,  I  bog  ««  a  moat  particular  J'acor  that  you 
will  breakfast  with  ino  to-morrow  at  eight.  At  nine  we  go  to  the  hustings, 
and  a  little  conversation  bofnro  that  will  he  absolutely  necessary.  1  am,  Sir, 
your  most  obedient  servant,  .Tosepu  Pitt. 

'Cirencester,  Tuesday  evening.' 

I  immediately  ordered  a  post-chaise,  and  left  Gloucester  before 
daybreak,  abandoning  without  much  regret  several  good  briefs 


1812.] 


ClUENCKbTEll  ELECTION, 


205 


to  bo  returned  with  the  fees  thereto  belungiug.  What  unuoyed 
iiiL-  wa.Ti  that  r  hail  brought  no  eleetion  books  with  me,  and  that 
1  wa«  wholly  ignorant  of  the  constitution  of  the  borough  of 
Ciieneestcr.  I  was  most  desperately  frightened  lest  I  should 
iixposo  myself  and  do  mischief  to  othei's.  However,  I  put  my 
trust  in  Providenci',  and  when  from  the  elevation  of  Birdlip 
Hill  I  saw  the  sun  rise  in  full  majesty  and  illumine  the  valley 
of  the  Severn,  my  sensations  were  considerably  more  pleasing 
than  painful.  The  monuiit  J  arrived  1  laid  hold  of  the  Report 
of  the  Proceedings  of  a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons 
upon  a  former  Cirencester  eleetion,  in  which  they  decided  the 
right  of  voting  to  be  in  '  householders  inhabitants  of  the  borough, 
legally  settled.'  This  tran(piillizcd  me  considerably,  settlement 
law  being  as  familiar  to  me  as  to  most  men  in  the  profession,  and 
the  definition  of  houscholdcrts  and  inhabitants  being  pretty  well 
known  from  the  decisions  of  select  committees  under  the  Gren- 
ville  Act. 

I  found  that  the  candidates  were.  Lord  Apsley,  son  of  Earl 
Bathuret ;  Hicks-Boach,  a  country  gentleman  of  very  large 
property,  put  uj)  by  Pitt ;  antl  Cripps,  a  gentleman  living  in  the 
town,  not  very  wealthy,  but  very  much  beloved.  The  contest 
was  between  the  two  latter.  Half  the  electors  are  Lord  Bath- 
ui-st's  tenant.**,  and  A[)sley  was  therefore  quite  secure.  He  had 
for  counsel  a  young  man  of  the  name  of  Wilbraham,  Dauncey 
was  for  Bci'L'h,  and  Cripps  was  his  own  counsel. 

Having  brciild'astcd  at  Pitt's,  we  went  to  the  hustings. 
Cripps  and  the  counsel  and  agents  sat  round  a  table.  I  was 
placed  in  an  elevated  situation  above.  As  you  may  suppose, 
I  funked  a  good  deal  at  first,  but  I  got  through  the  busine&s 
to  my  own  satisfaction  and,  as  far  as  I  could  learn,  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned.  The  election  went  on  till  INIonday 
morning,  and  in  that  time  I  did  not  decide  upon  fewer  than 
sixty  dir^i)uted  votes,  each  of  which  was  like  an  appeal  at 
quarter  sessions  or  a  cause  at  Nisi  Prius.  Witnesses  were 
called,  arguments  upon  law  and  fact  were  delivered,  and  I  was 
obliged  to  exercise  the  functions  of  both  judge  and  juiy.      I 


# 


1 1  S  «A  bj 


ui 


206 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1812. 


prefaced  iny  decisions  with  a  short  siieech,  stating  the  reasoiiii 
for  the  opinion  I  hud  formed,  and  I  was  told  I  did  this  with 
considerable  neatness  and  precision.  The  diflicuity  of  my 
situation  was,  that  I  liad  to  determine  for  or  against  the  man 
who  employed  n»e,  with  whom  I  lived  iiiul  who  wuh  to  |my 
me.  However,  I  trust  in  (iod,  I  ohscrscd  tlu'  iiUKst  rijfjd 
impartiality.  Indeed,  Cripp-i  and  his  friends  e.xpresM^l  them- 
selves satisfieil  with  all  my  decisions  except  one,  which  I  know 
to  have  been  right.  If  a  voter  has  receiveil  parochial  relief 
within  a  twelvemonth  he  is  <lis(pialified.  Last  Christmas  the 
parish  paid  rent  for  a  man  which  had  become  dne  at  Michael- 
mas. Was  he  disipialiHed?  To  be  snre  he  was,  because  lie 
remaine<l  liable  to  the  payment  of  the  rent  down  to  the  moment 
when  it  was  paid,  and  then  only  was  he  relieved,  which  was 
within  the  twelvemonth.  On  Saturday  ni}j,ht  Cripps  was  com- 
pletely exhausted.  Beach  was  only  six  ahead  oi'  him,  but  had 
about  a  dozen  more  to  poll.  It  was  then  a^reetl  between  them 
that,  in  consideration  of  all  thoughts  of  a  petition  being  dropped. 
Beach's  majority  should  not  be  raised  abov((  six.  On  ^Ionday 
morning,  therefore,  I  had  only  to  give  judgment  in  two  or  three 
reservcil  cases,  and  to  see  that  the  poll  was  closed  with  all  duo 
formality.  By  eleven  the  sucf^cssful  candidates  were  placed  in 
their  (ihairs  to  be  carried  through  the  town,  and  I  returned  to 
Pitt's  house.  He  then  askal  me  whether  I  should  think  100 
guinetis,  which  he  had  given  on  similar  occasions,  a  sufficient  fee. 
I  said  quite  sufih'U'nt,  whereupon  he  gave  me  a  cheque  for  jGIIO 
5s.,  including  five  guineas  for  Mr.  (*oopcr. 

I  spent  my  time  at  Cirencester  very  agreeably.  The  business 
of  the  day  was  very  fatiguing,  as  my  mind  was  kept  c(mstantly 
on  the  stretch  for  nine  hours.  But  a  sidcndid  entertainment 
was  provided  for  us  on  our  return  from  the  hustings.  Dauncey 
dined  with  us  every  day,  and  generally  iiord  Aj)sley  and  several 
others.  Beautiful  claret  in  the  "ji'eatest  abundance !  I  met  with 
])articular  attention  from  Lord  Apsley,  who  is  one  of  the  most 
amiable  young  men  I  ever  met.  He  took  me  to  church  with 
liim  on  Sunday,  and  afterwards  he  made  a  party  expressly  to 


1812.] 


(  IllE.VCFWTKIl   KI.KCTION. 


297 


hIiow  rue  his  father*^  pnrk,  whioh  w  one  of  the  fiiie.st  in  Eng]nn<l. 
[  wtw  njountotl  on  n  prime  hunter  and,  aiTompanied  by  Daumey 
uiul  B(«('h,  was  eonthu'twl  by  his  lordsliip  over  the  ji^rounds 
forineil  by  his  grandfather,  and  whieh  Pope  acbuinnl  and  i-ele- 
brat«<l.  A  l)UHt  of  the  (KK't,  phu'e<l  over  his  favorite  neat,  was 
lately  pulled  to  piece."*  by  the  populace,  who  thought  it  wan 
meant  to  represent  the  Pope  of  Rome. 

If  T  had  had  a  little  money,  or  perhaps  if  I  had  merely  been 
of  l*itt's  way  of  thinking,  I  know  not  whether  in  this  excui>tioa 
I  might  not  have  beeonie  a  Parliament  man.  One  of  the  mem- 
l)er8  whom  he  meant  to  return  for  Malmesburv  <'omes  in  for  an 
Irisli  county,  and  he  was  very  much  at  a  loss  how  to  fill  up  the 
seat.  I  heard  a  whimsical  conversation  between  him  and  his 
ugent  for  this  enlightentH.1  and  in<l('[)endent  lH>rough,  in  which 
there  are  (mly  thirteen  electors,  who  are  called  burgesses.  After 
some  talk  as  to  who  the  members  were  to  be,  the  agent  said, 
'You  must  take  care.  Sir,  to  nuike  the  burgesses  rcmemlx'r  the 
names  before  going  to  the  town-hall  on  Tuesday.'  Pttt. — *  1  will 
take  care  of  that,  I  will  write  them  down.'  A(/cnf. — 'That  won't 
\\o,  Sir,  for  the  burgesses  cannot  rcjid.*  You  have  here,  as  far  as 
£  remend)cr,  the  very  words,  and  I  swear  tlu!  substance  of  the 
dialojruc.  The  election  for  Malmesburv  is  this  dav,  and  to-mor- 
row  Pitt  himself  is  returned  for  Cricklade.  TIk!  latter  is  bv  no 
means  a  rotten  borough,  but  his  property  there  is  so  grciit  that 
he  conmiands  one  seat.  At  his  request,  I  wrote  for  him  an 
advertisement,  returning  thanks  to  his  constituents,  to  be  j)rinted 
after  the  election.  T  look  upon  it  as  a  matter  of  some  conse- 
(juenec  to  have  made  the  acquaintance  and  gained  the  gcxnl 
opinion  of  such  a  man,  to  whom  T  was  formerly  an  utter 
stranger.  Tlwaigh  of  the  strictest  honor  in  private  life,  his 
political  principles  [  regard  with  abhorrence,  and  I  would  reject 
the  olfer  to  become  one  of  his  mend)ers  without  a  moment's 
hesitatif  n.*     Yet  professionally  he  may  have  it  in  his  power  to 


*Mr.  I'itt  went  on  a  good  many  years  trading  in  Hcata  m  it  was  thought 
very  prosperously,  but  long  before  the  Reform  Bill  a  smash  came,  and  he  died 
inBolvent. 


298 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1812. 


DC  of  gri'ut  Hcrvico  to  mo,  uiul  I  Ixiliovc  he  will  think  of  mo 
nguiii  ill  any  of  hin  fiitiiri;  (tioctioncurin^  contrHtM. 

I  thought  to  have  aniurtcd  you  with  hoiiio  of  tho  huniora  of 
thirt  C'irciu'CHtor  olrction,  aii<l  particuhirly  with  an  account  of  a 
raggwl  and  groiwy  citizfii  who  polled  and  gave  liord  Apsloy  n 
phimpcr  in  ihyino.  But  my  jiapor  is  oxhaastcd.  In  walking 
through  the  strwitH  yrstcnhiy  afttT  tlie  chairing,  I  got  into  a  dis- 
appoiiitc<l  Crippwite  mob,  who  began  to  hi*s  mc,  calling  out 
•justice I*  I  iwkcd  an  old  woman,  who  hisHwl  Uwtily,  what  I  luul 
done  to  offend  her.  She  hisnod  on ;  I  then  tiiriuHl  rouii<l,  t(M)k 
her  in  my  arms  and  kissed  her;  whereupon  I  wttH  applaiuled  to 
the  sky,  and  they  regarded  me  as  a  Daniel.  I  can  only  add  that 
I  got  into  a  coach  at  four  which  brought  me  to  Oxford.  There 
I  W!W  tak(!n  up  by  tlie  Shrewsbury  mail,  which  this  morning  at 
seven  o'clock  set  mc  down  at  Temple  Bar.  My  love  to  all  at 
home.     Ever  yours  most  affect lonately, 

J.  C. 


Tomple,  November  30, 1812. 

Mydeai?  "'^'VTiAi^it: —  .  .  .  I  am  sorry  your  poor  have  HO  bad  a 
prospect  for  the  winter.  I  authorize  and  request  you  to  put  down 
my  name  for  £10  towards  their  relief.  P^veryone  must  see  what 
an  expenditure  rapidly  increasing,  and  rapidly  decaying  resounics 
must  necessarily  lead  to.  The  great  bankruptcies  you  mention  are 
only  a  pn.'lude  to  a  still  greater.  Howev(;r,  I  have  been  inakinjr 
some  pr(!tty  successful  exertions  to  get  rid  of  my  suj)erfluoiis  (•;i>*li. 
I  have  bought  a  dozen  silver  forks  with  the  family  crest,  £',i2  In.; 
knives  and  forks,  <tc,,  a  gold  chain  and  seal  Avith  the  boar's  head 
beautifully  engraved  thereon;  about  £150  worth  of  miscellaneous 
English  books;  an  atlas,  £11  5s.;  and  the  Statutes  at  Large,  40 
guinea.s!  Some  of  these  items,  I  suppose  will  make  your  hair 
stand  on  cud.  It  is  well  I  had  the  prudence  to  keej)  secret  what 
I  paid  for  my  seal.  Do  you  remember  when  I  told  yoii  I  had 
taken  expensive  chambers  in  Paper  Buildings,  your  saying,  wlieii 
you  had  a  little  i-ecovcrod  from  your  (ionstcrnation,  'Well,  Jack, 
perhaps  after  all  it  is  better  to  go  on  with  spirit,  and  it  may  be 


1812.] 


LAW   PARMAMKNTARY  ORATORR. 


299 


for  your  udvunta^t'  to  Imvc  Hi'Mt-mtc  ('liuinl)ura  even  iC  t\wy  hIiouI'I 
coHt  you  iiH  niiirli  iim  £',i()  or  £40  a  ycui'.'  . 

Brouj^huii),  who  \h  my  junior  horc/  tVoiii  InHMtartitijir  wiw  infi- 
nitely jilH)ve  me  in  j>oint  of  wh'brity.  But  ho  owvn  eviTything  ho 
hits  ut  tho  liar  to  Win  {tolitiral  and  parliamentary  influcnco.  Even 
now  h(!  haH  no  regular  buriinesM  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bench.  I 
know  him  intimately  and  eouHider  him  a  very  elever  nnm.  Hifl 
prorti>o('ts  in  the  profenHior.  '.'.r*'  mi»r!>  moif  flattering  than  mine. 
With  Wttletjomparative  labor,  he  innure  to  rca<'h  hx  higheHt  hon- 
oi'H.  My  Hne(»!H.s  has  lH>en  caused,  and  nniHt  b(>  contliiued,  by  the 
painful  exertiouH  of  industry.  But  when  the  diiferuni^>  of  our 
Hituation  at  starting  is  considered,  this  diflerencc  in  our  career 
ought  not  to  ex<!itc  either  discontent  or  des|H)nden(!C.  If  Brougham 
(liMtancc8  me,  I  get  ahead  of  Horner.  He  Iiaa  no  business  of  any 
sort  either  in  law  or  equity,  and  politics  are  not  likely  to  make 
him  much  compensation  for  his  professional  disapiKtintment.  Ho 
is  not  yet  even  returned  to  Parliament,  and  it  renmins  somewhat 
doubtful  whether  he  will  be  brought  in.  1  crrtainly  would  by 
no  means  oxehange  my  situation  with  his.  .  .  . 

You  are  wrong  in  saying  the  law  furnishes  no  parliamentary 
oratoi-s.  What  think  you  of  liord  Mansfield  and  Charles  Yorke, 
of  Thurlow  and  \Ve<lderburn,  of  Sir  William  Grant  and  little 
Perceval,  of  Romilly  and  Brougham?  We  might  almost  claim 
Pitt  himself,  who  wiis  called  to  the  bar  and  several  times  w«'iit 
the  Western  circuit.  In  my  most  enthusia>*ti<!  and  absurd  mo- 
ments, I  do  not  hope  that  my  name  may  Im;  inscribed  in  the  list. 
There  is  no  chance  of  my  being  able  to  get  into  Parliani(!nt  till 
a  period  of  life  when  it  must  be  nuich  too  late  to  think  of  ora- 
tory, and  then  I  should  be  too  much  occupied  with  professional 
business  to  give  the  necessary  attention  to  politics.  Under  such 
eircmnstunces  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Connnons  would  be  of  lit- 
tle use  except  to  give  tlu;  privilege;  of  fraidving.  Tlu;  proba- 
bility therefore  is  that  even  if  I  should  succeed  in  my  profession 


*  Brougham  is  my  junior  at  the  English  bar,  but  1  rather  believe  was  an 
Edinburgh  ivlvocate  before  1  was  entered  of  Lmculn's  Inn. — Letter  of  Juntt 
5, 1812. 


noo 


l.ll'K  OP    I.OI(r>  ('AMi'llKl.t,. 


[181.1. 


OH  fur  iiM  I  itkii  ill  niVMMi  rxiNti,  I  nIikII  iicvir  In>  n  I'lirliiitiii'nt 
nmn.  Ft  Ih  not  iin|MiM4il>|i',  liowcv«r,  to  In>  iNttli  liuppy  iiiul  linnfM 
without  Hiu'li  iMliHtiiH'tioii.  If  I  iitii  not  in  Parliament  nivMlf 
(what  in  more  ^lorioiiM)  I  huv«'  two  nf  my  M-rvuiitM  thrn*.  Stnihan 
niy  printer  ami  Ihittcrworth  my  pnMiMhcr  an*  Intth  M.I'.'m. 

LonI  Kltion  ninnot  y<<t  make  up  hir*  mini!  to  ^;iv«<  any  more 
Milk  ^ownw.  Thoy  nay  KllmlMtrouj^h  han  ur^etl  him  htron^ly  in 
iN'hair  of  Hi'arlett  and  Marryat,  lait  all  to  no  pnr|>oN4>.  Thin  in 
very  hani  uiH)n  the  junioi-M.  The  men  who  ou^ht  to  Im>  proniotetj 
now  hold  thi^  laiHinertH  whieh  ou^ht  to  devolve  U|Nin  nM.  Kxeept 
the  removal  of  (iiltl)^,'''  there  han  Immmi  no  w»rt  of  Htep  or  pronut- 
tion  in  onr  court  ninee  I  wan  «iille«l  t(»  th(!  iMir.  However,  Mome- 
tUiu^;^  inuHt  Im>  done  (or  uh  in  the  eourne  of  Hix  montliH.  Iluif 
thu  judges  are  Hn|K!ninnuatMl,  and  an  a>^eni|»t  will  lie  niudo  to 
t'orva  them  to  ret*i)^n. 


illiiuitmtiir,  Tueaday,  April  I,  !S13. 

My  Dkaii  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  Owin^  to  the  ineiHeiemyof  our 
judn<'rt  the  anrtizeM  are  not  yet  over.  The  husinesH  on^ht  all  to 
have  (init«he«l  on  Alonday,  liut  it  may  dra^;  on  to  the  end  of  the 
vfiH'k.  1  have  not  l>een  ho  lon^  from  town  at  one  time  during' 
the  lant  twelve  years,  ati<l  I  lon^  moHt  eann'Htly  oiiee  more  to 
iM-hold  '  tlu!  full  tid(!  of  existence  at  ( 'harin^  ( 'rosr^.'  |  have  had 
Homc!  little  consolation  during;  the  la.-t  wick  of  my  iMinislmient. 
tSince  I  came  to  thin  pliice  I  liiive  had  twenty  hi-ief",  and  1  have 
nmde  above  forty  j^uineiusl  TIiIm  is  pretty  wtfll  for  'a  youii;; 
man  endeiivoriiij^  to  hrin;^  himself  into  notice.'  1  (confess  I  aia 
u  (;o(h1  deal  amused  hy  the  lan^na<re  yon  use;  from  time  to  time 
resp(H'tinfj;  my  succesd  at  the  bar.  If  yon  j^ive  credit  to  myas,ser- 
tions,  yon  know  that  my  pro<;ress  has  been  more  rapid  than  lliat 
of  any  man  of  my  .standing,  however  ^rcat  his  advantages,  and 
that  1  am  actually  making;  above  Xl^M)  a  year.  Yet  y(»u  talk 
and  appear  to  feel  as  if  1  renuiined  equally  obsctu'c  aw  when  I 
woH  RvHt  (idled  to  thu  bar,  and  an  if  I  had  not  raised  my  coudi- 


*Sir  Vicaiy  Oibbs  wa»  appointed  ajudfje  in  June,  18!2. — Ed. 


iHl.'t.] 


HATIMIIKD   Unii    IIU:    LAW. 


aoi 


tioii  alM>v«'  what  it  wii^  wlifii  I  i-i'iNtrttil  |nii  liuiiit'niiirv  i!flMtt4>rt  for 
till'  '  Moriiiii);  ( 'lirniiirlr.'  I  coiitVriH  I  am  u  little  liiirt  at  tlic  <iuu 
iiul  ('Xpri-HHioiirt  ii|M)ii  tluH  HulijtM't  that  imw  and  then  uii(«>nH<'imiHly 
«lrop  Irnm  ymi.  Tlwy  w«'tii  ti>  iii*liiiit<>  that  you  an-  wiTistly  <11h- 
MitiMtiiil  with  thi>  ti^iiri'  I  make  in  th<>  wiirM.  Th<>rt<  \n  tiothiiii; 
that  I  >h<)iili|  value  hij^hei'  than  your  real  reH|N>ct,  and  T  inUNt 
therelni-e  Huller  fVnin  the  a|)|irehenHiou  of  not  enjoyin;;  it.  It  in 
not  any  hi>j;hflown  eoMi|)liinentH  iVotn  you  that  eun  yieM  nu>  any 
[)lea<4Ui'e,  liitt  it  would  yf'wt'  nie  the  iiiirest  MiitiHl'aetion  to  iHTeeivo 
I'rorn  your  ungtiurdiHl  How  of  sentiment  that  you  sincerely  honor 
lay  eharaeter,  and  that  you  juntly  appreeiate  the  r<tation  I  have 
attainwl  in  th«  profesnion.  I  do  not  think  you  liave  ever  reeov- 
eretl  from  niy  not  hein^  employed  in  the  File  (laol  Hill,  and  you 
eontinuu  of  opinion  that  the  Cupar  writeiM  art;  inor<>  eompetont 
jmlgCH  of  my  meritn  than  the  Lon<lon  attorncyn.  My  own  notion 
in  that,  all  thin^'s  eonnidered,  you  ouj^ht  to  Im5  satihHe«l  with  the 
hitualion  which  yi>ur  rton  now  oc<'upieH  in  MK*i(>ty,  and  the  proH- 
pectrt  he  han  before  hitn.  I  may  Im;  mistaken  U|)«)n  the  Huhject, 
and  you  can  no  «loul)t  view  it  with  more  unpredjudi<'e<l  eyew. 
My  HUctecMM  in  thiri  <'ounty  at  the  Hunie  time  ou^ht  not  to  oxcito 
nmcli  dixsatisfaction  in  you.  It  iri  cxaiitly  three  years  Hince  I 
fu-flt  entered  it,  and  then  I  did  not  know  one  individual  within 
its  limitH.  In  this  fi(.>ld  I  have  had  to  contend  with  men  long 
<vstal)lishcd  in  husincss,  and  of  powerful  l(M;al  connetrtion.  Yet 
diu'in^;  the  present  assi/es  I  liavi;  been  decidedly  th(!  second  man 
in  the  Crown  court — at  no  very  i^reat  distance  from  the  first. 

I  am  preparing  another  numlK'r  of  my  Reports  for  the  presd. 
Their  reputation  has  long  been  firmly  established,  and  I  believe 
they  have  bcsen  of  the  most  es«cntial  service  to  nie. 

Temple,  April  19, 1813. 

My  Dkaii  FATjri;ii : —  ...  I  got  back  to  town  as  I  expected 
on  Friday  the  9th.  I  have  been  v«;ry  busy  since.  I  find 
by  the  news  from  the  (iircuits  I  have  no  great  reason  to  be  dissat- 
isfied with  my  progress  on  the  Oxford,  slow  as  it  is.  Brougham 
had  not  above  two  or  three  briefs  on  the  Northern ;  Spunkie  not 


■■'n 
.'I'd' 

';;:■ 


30'2 


l.irK  OK    U>lll>  (AMI'IIKI.I, 


[181.1. 


iiioiT  on  (hi>  llohitt;  lloi'tMT  not  m»  Mtiiny  on  iIh'  WtwdTn; 
/uniiK  Williiini  Aiiiini  not  onr!  So  murli  tor  iIh' StittiiMli  iimi- 
utftion.  Anioii^  tin*  Kn){li»li  lli«>n>  Ih  n  yonn^  man  of  t\\v  t\u\w 
ofiiitVonl''  who  liiM  ^oi  Mil  niiMt  iintonixiiini^ly  on  llic  Wi^trrn  cir- 
ruit.  I  If  in  an  Ivvt'tiT  iniin,  iititl  Iimh  very  |N»wi>rliil  I*niiI  |Hitriin!i}{o 
joint-*!  lo  very  r«in><i«lt'riil»l«'iiltilitics.  NVifli  tliiHrxi-cptinn,  I  U'lii-vf 
my  fircnlt  station  isiin  ^ihmI  i\n  timt  ot'  any  man  of  my  Htimilin^.  In 
the  Kin^^V  lU'm-li  Inmtinurto  keep  tin- lead,  How  lonj^thiM  may  Im> 
no,  it  iM  very  Winimit  to  wiy.  I  /itnk  U'I'ory  KII<>nlM)rou^'li  iw 
much  iiM  (>v(>r.  I  alniont  il«'N|iair  of  «>v<>r  arqiiirin};  a  Hunicifiit 
(If^rtH*  of  conlitlt'tKi'  iM'foiT  liim  to  put  m«>  in  |M'o|M>r  poFwifiMidn 
of  my  farulti«'M.  Tin"  other  •■h'vrn,  howj-vi-r,  I  now  mind  tut 
littk)  iiM  tlu!  juHtict'H  at  <|Mart<>r  M'r'HionH,  and  my  im|Mid«'n(r  \h 
)(radnally  dwdoiMtl.  lI|Min  the  Kin^;V  d<-ath  llroii^ham  will 
g(>t  II  nilk  j:;own  iiM  Att<»rn<'y-(i«'n«'nd  to  the  nrw  (iiifi-n,  lint  li»» 
will  n(!V(!r  (hi  much  without  the  iHir.  \Vc  «lo  not  yet  know  who 
iH  t<>  In!  SSolicitor-Cicncral  in  the  riNim  of  (iarrow.  I  atu  alVaid 
there  iri  not  likely  to  Im'  any  move  in  our  court.  Kldon  Im  Maid 
tu  have  dtvlarcd  he  wa^  m  much  |)U//lcd  upon  the  Muhjcct  that 
he  had  at  laxt  detcrmine<l  never  to  make  any  more  nilk  ^ownn. 

DoeH  your  l*re«l>ytery  mean  to  a<ldrei^  the  I'rinicxs  of  WalcH 
upon  theovi.'rthrow  of  thiHc(Hi!4piracy  a^aiuHt  her  life  and  honor? 
I  have  idmoHt  th<>  mime  portion  of  reH|H-ct  for  this  c<|Ual  couple. 

'TIh  DtrnnpiO  thi*  |iair  •hotild  diongroe. 

Although  NO  >ti|iiiil  aru  their  livoN; 
The  vory  won't  of  huHbiiti'lH  be, 

An<l  hIk'  tli«  vnry  wontt  of  wiven 


TempU,  Juno  16, 1813. 

My  DEAU  Fatiikk:—  .  .  .  T  have  heard  nothing' fr(mi  Lord 
Breadalbane.  Do,  my  dear  father,  dismiss  him  i'rom  your 
tliuughts.  Ii«ilh  you  and  I  an;  wholly  indcpcnd(!iit  of  him. 
...  I  tjilk  thus  ma)2;tiifi(!ently  to-day  an  I  am  just  come  from 
beating  Mr.  Attorney-Cieneral  Garrow.    S<'urlett,  l)eing  suddenly 

*AftorwArili)  Lord  UiSord. 


IHt.-).] 


Ni'txKwt  IX  Mo.\>iiii'riiMiiiir« 


3()a 


mllitl  nwiiy  to  tin*  IToiip>««  of  T^ohU,  U'ft  UU  liricf  with  met  in  « 
iiiiiM'  wliifli  wiiM  to  ilt'i'idi'  II  i|iii  <tii)ii  of  ^rciit  iiitcriiHt  to  tli<- 
iiK'nitntiN'  worM.     I  wan  o|hmi«<<I  win^^Iy  !«»  (}iirri»\v  tiwiMh'tl  l»y 

I'llllct*.       I^OIll    I'll'lltxtlltll^ll    WIIH  lit    lil-Nt  HtroilJ^ly  IIKUillMt  IIH',  l>iit 

I  l>r<Mi;{|ii  jijii)  (ivor  ;  niid  iii'tn'  a  liiini  ^ti'U({v;l«>,  iiiiii  tlii>  <>\tiiiiinn- 
lioii  of  It  jjn'iit  iniuiy  wUih"^.-!!^  tin  lM»tli  Hi<l^^*,  I  ol)tiuiic«l  ihi'  vi-r- 
ijirt.  'I'liii  iiH  tli«>  |il<u^Miitt<>>t  |M-ofc>M«!i)iiul  iticitii'iit  I  linvo  met 
with  for  II  loii^  wliilc.  Am  tlii>  iiimc  IiikI  notliin^  to  <lo  witli 
•^tjui'tioii  or  vrhit,  t'on.^  I  duti't  mu|)|m)m'  it  will  Iw  lUi'iitiouul  in 
till*  n(>WH|Mi|H<n«. 

T«mpU,  Octolinr  II,  1HI3. 

My  iiKAK  Katiikii: —  .  .  .  ITcn*  I  nni  iigniii  cMtabliHlKHl  in 
tli«>  T«>tii|ilc,  rotuly  for  thn  o|M*tiin);  of  iiiioilit'r  cuiMitiii};!!.  On 
till'  \\\^\\i  of  tlic  iHt  r  iniul<>  u  rnpiil  journey  to  HriHtol  liy  tin- 
iimil,  wliicli  Ih  tin'  Mwift«'Ht  in  Kei;;linnl.  We  went  \vl»ol««  MtiiKif 
itlM>ve  ten  niileH  an  lionr.  Next  <l;tv  I  <iine«i  witli  niv  friend 
liiidlow,  tlie  provincial  InirriMter.  On  Sundiiy  I  Hailed  iwroHs  the 
Severn  and  pr<KH'<«<ie<l  tlirou^^h  ('lu'jmtow  to  UmU.  S<'»wionH  hiul ! 
We  are  ruine«l  hy  the  i\\w  harvest  an<i  the  general  pn)M|K'rity  of 
the  titneH.  TJtd«!»w  the  next  l)o  a  year  of  wiireity,  and  oiih-rs  of 
removal  multiply,  Hertsions  will  not  Ik>  wortli  \i,o\\\\:,  to.  What 
was  to  Im<  ^ot  I  had.  I  Htill  reniaiM  a  Hort  of  MonnioutliMhire 
iionaparte,  notwithstandin;;  tiie  coulr.iiortH  formed  to  hiind>le  me. 
My  three  rivals  are  not  very  foni\  .'iul.-le  and  there  is  no  j;reat 
jjlory  in  overeotninj^  tliem.  At  the  le  time  my  iweeialenfy  in 
not  to  Im'  despi.mMl.  My  rwi'iptH  far  e*'**)]  my  expenwH,  and  the 
Hitiiation  I  hold  here  immediately  leads  t<  il\\\  employment  at  tlu- 
iWrtizeH.  My  expedition  to  UhU  wils  di>cid*><||y  the  liiekieHt  hit  I 
have  made  sinee  I  was  eiiJIed  to  the  har.  Now  I  shall  Ik'  station- 
ary till  alKHit  tlie  mi(hlle  of  .lannaiy.  Wc  ilo  not  iM'jjjin  any 
l)aHino«.s  in  court  till  the  1st  of  Xovemlior,  hut  I  shall  have  sulVi- 
cient  employment  till  then  in  hrin^rinj;  up  the  arrears  of  my 
Reports,  and  elearinj;  my  tuhle  of  several  heavy  things  witli 
which  it  has  Inicn  too  long  encuinlH(red. 

I  remained  in  town  the  whole  of  thu  interval  letween  the  cir- 


M\H^\. 


III. 


304 


LIFK  OF   LOUD  CAMI'nEM,. 


[181.'{. 


ciiit  nnd  soKsioiis.  And  liow  do  you  think  I  employed  my  time? 
Ill  learning];  to  daiuv!  You  may  renioinlxT  1  was  initiated  in 
this  divine  art  by  the  illustrious  Clarkson,  and  I  believe  I  was  a 
tolerable  prolieient.  For  some  time  after  1  came  to  Kngland  I 
liad  )io  opportunity  to  practice,  and  afterwards  F  found  I  Mas 
only  lit  to  be  a  spectator  at  a  ball.  I  had  not  only  forgot  niv 
native  acquirements,  but  I  jierceived  that  the  style  of  eountry- 
<lancinjjf  in  the  two  countries  was  essentially  different.  Here 
were  new  steps,  new  figures,  and  entirely  new  names  where  the 
movements  were  the  same.  1  remcnd)er  asking  u  lady  what  tlio 
dance  wjus.  *()h!*  said  she,  'the  simplest  in  the  world.  Whole 
iigure  at  top,  hey  on  your  own  side,  set  and  half  right  and  lel't, 
chase  round  one  couple,  swing  corners,  and  half  poussette.'  The 
consequence  was  that  I  never  made  the  attempt,  in  which  I 
pliould  only  have  exposed  myself.  I  avoided  all  places  where 
dancing  was  likely  to  be  and,  when  I  could  nc»t,  I  assumed  a 
fashionable  nonchalance,  sjiid  I  hated  the  fatigue,  or  ])erhaps 
quoted  Cicero's  maxim  *  Nemo  sohrins  mftaV  This  proved  a 
<'onsideral)le  disadvantage.  I  lost  elegant  amusement,  I  excluded 
myself  from  society  and,  from  a  consciousness  of  my  deficiency, 
I  sometimes  felt  ])ositive  pain,  <lrcading  that  I  should  be  unable 
to  (ionceal  it.  I  liad  as  great  a  horror  of  a  fiddle  in  a  drawing- 
room  as  a  Scotch  Covenanter  of  an  organ  in  a  church.  I  was 
at  last  dr.  veil  to  the  resolution  of  applying  to  one  of  the  dancing 
masters  who  teach  grown  gentlemen.  Accordingly  on  my  return 
from  the  circuit  I  waited  upon  a  celebrated  artist  from  the  Opera 
House.  Chmf^f!  Coap^.!  BrisC!  One!  Two!  Three!  I  may 
say  I  devoted  the  long  vacation  to  this  pursuit.  I  did  not  engage 
in  special  pleading  with  more  eagerness.  I  went  to  my  instructor 
regularly  every  morning  at  ten,  and  two  or  three  times  a  week. 
I  returned  in  the  evening.  You  may  be  sure  I  was  frightened 
out  of  my  wits  lest  I  should  be  seen  by  anyone  I  knew.  I 
might  have  met  an  attorney's  clerk  accustomed  -to  bring  me 
papers,  or  possibly  my  own  clerk.  It  required  some  courage  to 
fiice  this  danger,  and  I  give  myself  infinite  credit  for  the  effort 
I  have  made.     I  have  been  highly  lucky:  not  recognized  a 


1813.] 


LEARN8  TO   DANCE. 


306 


single  face  I  had  seen  before  t  My  morning  lessons  were  private, 
but  to  learn  figures  it  was  of  course  indispensably  necessary  to 
mix  with  others.  I  met  several  dancing  masters  from  the  coun- 
try, dashing  young  shopkeepers,  ladies  qualifying  themselves  for 
governesses,  etc.,  etc.  I  have  attended  so  diligently  and  made 
such  progress,  that  I  verily  believe  I  pass  for  a  pei'son  intending 
to  teach  the  art  myself  in  the  provinces.  I  entered  by  the  name 
of  Smith;  but  my  usual  appellation  is  'the  gentleman.'  My 
co-pupils  in  general  make  no  mystery  about  their  family  or  situa- 
tion. I  have  now  discontinued  the  morning  lessons,  but  still  go 
in  the  evenings.  If  you  were  to  see  mo  perform,  you  would  call 
me  '  le  dim  de  la  dame.'  Seriously,  I  conceive  I  am  *  qualified 
to  join  the  most  polite  assemblies,'  according  to  the  advertisement 
which  attracted  me.  Instead  of  shunning  I  shall  now  court 
opportunities  of  figuring  upon  the  light  fantastic  toe.  In  short 
I  mean  to  become  un  beau  gargon.  Heaven  knows,  but  this 
dancing  master  may  be  the  means  of  giving  you  a  daughter-in- 
law  before  the  year  is  out.  If  a  pretty  girl  of  respectable  con- 
nections should  fall  in  love  with  my  brisis,  I  should  have  no 
objection  to  make  her  my  partner  for  life.  I  could  now  venture 
on  marriage  without  imprudence  and  I  have  no  time  to  lose.  I 
sadly  fear,  however,  that  the  return  of  the  Morrow  of  All  Souls 
will  drive  all  these  thoughts  from  my  head,  and  reduce  me  once 
more  to  a  mere  special  pleader. 

I  need  not  say  that  I  was  exceedingly  delighted  with  your 
letter  of  the  16th  September.  Your  excui'sion  to  Falkland  is 
indeed  a  most  gratifying  proof  of  your  continued  vigor.  I  have 
little  to  boast  in  that  way  myself  except  that  during  the  last  cir- 
cuit I  walkpd  tu  the  top  of  the  Wrekin  in  Shropshire,  where 
none  of  our  men  had  been,  although  we  pass  its  base  twice  a 
year;  and  that,  being  unable  to  procure  a  chaise  at  Ross,  I 
walked  on  a  very  hot  day  to  Gloucester,  which  is  sixteen  miles, 
within  four  hours,  leaving  Mr.  Cooper  to  bring  up  the  baggage, 
without  feeling  the  slightest  particle  of  fatigue.  I  have  a  ten- 
dency to  get  fat,  which  I  am  not  entirely  able  to  check,  but  I 
retain  as  much  strength  and  activity  as  at  any  former  period. 

VOL  I.  13* 


306 


LIFE  OP  LOUD  CAMPHELL. 


[1813. 


Sir  Edward  East  is  succeeded  by  two  men  of  the  naniefl  of 
Maule  and  Selwyn.     I  believe  I  could  easily  liave  stepped  into 
the  reportershij)  myself.     It  is  worth  above  £1000  a  year.    If 
it  Avere  double  the  value  I  should  decline  it  without  hesitation 
as  it  is  almost  entirely  inconsistent  with  practice  at  the  bar. 

Tcmplo,  November  11, 1813. 

My  dear  Geohoe: —  .  .  .  When  you  hoard  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  French  army  in  Jlussia,  you  must  have  regained  all 
your  ancient  gaiety.  How  will  you  feel  when  you  receive  news 
of  the  battle  of  Leipsic,  and  Bonaparte's  flight  across  the  Rhine? 
You  express  surprise  that  I  say  nothing  in  my  letters  of  public 
afliiirs.  The  plain  reason  is  that  I  conceive  the  topic  would  be 
wholly  uninteresting.  You  know  of  alt  the  great  events  that 
take  place  long  before  my  letters  reach  you,  and  there  could  be 
no  interest  in  speculating  upon  a  state  of  things  which  you  know 
has  completely  altered  before  the  speculation  is  read.  Domestic 
politics  have  ceased  to  exist.  There  are  no  longer  any  parties  in 
the  country.  Pcoi)le  have  no  great  regard  for  the  present  Min- 
isters, but  a  change  is  neither  desired  or  thought  of.  The  Oppo- 
sition is  Avholly  discomfited  and  dissolved.  Nor  do  people  at  all 
care  about  the  Pi'ince  or  his  wife  or  his  Court.  The  struggle 
with  Bonaparte  engrosses  the  national  attention,  and  that  you 
have  the  same  means  of  being  acquainted  with  as  myself.  I  can 
assure  you  no  one  has  hailed  with  more  enthusiasm  this  happy 
turn  of  affairs.  It  has  given  a  fresh  value  to  my  existence.  I 
now  look  forward  with  renewed  and  redoubled  ])leasurc  to  your 
return  to  your  native  country.  For  a  long  while  I  hardly 
thought  you  would  have  a  count'y  to  return  to.  The  independ- 
ence of  England  and  of  Eurojic  seems  now  established  for  this 
and  probably  for  many  generations.  It  is  almost  Impossible  for 
you  to  imagine  the  general  joy  on  this  occasion.  It  is  not  merely 
sentimental .  Thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  are  now  employed 
who  have  been  starving  for  years.  There  never  was  such  a 
demand  known  for  colonial  produce  or  manufactured  goods. 
Many  articles  have  risen  100  per  cent.     In  short,  there  have  not 


1813.] 


BONAPARTE  8  DlSASTEHa. 


307 


been  such  times  since  tliu  year  1793.  We  urc  content  to  make 
peace,  Bonu[)artc  giving  up  Holland,  Italy  ami  Switzerland ;  but 
nc  v-'.rms  short  of  these  will  now  f'atisfy  us.  What  our  tone  may 
be  a  twelvcmout'a  hence  I  will  not  pretend  to  nnticipa'e.  But 
it  is  impoasible  we  should  ever  Imj  redu(!ed  to  the  state  wc  have 
emerged  from — and  there  is  a  fair  prospect  of  our  enjoying  a  long 
train  of  prosperity.  So  keep  up  your  heart,  my  dear  brother ! 
Believe  that  many  happy  days  are  yet  in  store  for  you — 

crop  the  moining  roao  ;  the  time  improve ; 

And  when  'tia  given  to  love,  indulge  in  love. 

...  I  was  much  gratified  to  find  the  other  day  from  my 
tailor's  measure  that  I  have  not  increased  in  size  these  three  years. 
I  never  taste  r:alt  liquor,  nor  soup,  never  eat  anything  after  din- 
ner, and  swallow  a  small  quantity  of  liquid  of  any  sort.  My 
health  upon  this  regimen  is  extremely  gootl.  I  am  in  far  better 
health  than  I  was  in  a  few  yeai-s  ago.  No  touch  of  jaundice ! 
My  only  misfortune  is  that  I  am  getting  bald.  For  this  I  sup- 
pose I  am  partly  indebted  to  my  wig.  There  is  no  part  of  my 
head  absolutely  bare,  but  the  hair  upon  the  whole  of  the  sinciput 
is  exceedingly  thin  and  threatens  to  leave  me  altogether. 


India  Office,  November  24, 1813. 

My  dear  Brother  : — I  am  now  sitting  here  while  a  packet 
is  making  up  for  Bengal.  ...  In  times  like  these  one  has  hardly 
time  to  think  of  private  or  domestic  matters.  *  Orange-Boven  ! ' 
You  will  be  quite  delirious  when  the  news  of  October  and 
November  reaches  you.*  The  independence  of  Europe  is  estab- 
lished for  ever.  How  much  more  pleasure  I  now  have  in  the 
prospect  of  your  return !  I  shall  be  in  Amsterdam  next  sum- 
mer.    Perhaps  in  Paris ! 

The  Solicitor-General   is  not  yet  appointed.     Abbott  is  no 

*0n  Novoiiibor  14th  tho  Orange  flag  was  hoisted  at  the  Hague  and  Amster- 
dam, amid  the  ancient  acclamations  of  'Orange-boven  !'  (Up  with  the  Orange !) 
and  the  French  troops  departed. — Walter  Scott's  Life  of  Napoleon,  vol.  vii.  p. 
431.— Ed. 


308 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1814. 


longer  speculated  upon.  However,  now  that  Bonaparte  is  over- 
whelmed, I  have  no  fears  as  to  my  future  prospects.  The  thron 
per  cents  are  above  sixty. 

Temple,  December  26, 1813, 

Mt  DEAii  Brother  : —  .  .  .  Nothing  particular  has  occurmi 
since  my  last.  The  year  closes  auspiciously.  "We  look  for  a 
glorious  and  secure  peace.  I  expect  to  be  in  Paris  next  long 
vacation.  Would  you  had  been  at  home  that  we  might  have 
gone  together  I 

My  private  affairs  continue  to  prosper.  My  fees  during  the 
present  year  excaed  £1700.  This  is  a  monstrous  sum  of  monev 
for  a  man  of  my  standing  to  make.  Still  I  make  no  figure  at 
the  bar.  I  continue,  perhaps  foolishly,  to  aspire  to  something 
more.  My  confidence  in  court  improves.  I  can  now  examine 
witnesses  and  argue  interlocutoiy  matters  with  some  satisfaction 
to  myself.  What  do  you  think  of  the  three  per  cents  at  sixty- 
seven! 

Temple,  January  25, 1814. 

My  dear  George  : —  .  .  .  Tliank  God,  the  good  came  con- 
tinues to  prosper.  I  am  afraid  this  snow  must  impede  the 
advance  of  the  Allies,  but  with  common  prudence  I  tliink  they 
must  get  to  Paris  a  few  weeks  sooner  or  later.  The  Frenoli 
nation  does  not  declare  against  Bonaparte,  but  shows  no  enthu- 
siasm in  his  favor  or  in  its  own  defence.  I  cannot  express  to 
you  the  gratification  I  have  felt  from  the  turn  of  affairs  Avitliin 
the  last  fifteen  months.  Hardly  any  private  good  fortune  could 
have  given  me  so  much  pleasure.  I  still  hope  to  visit  Fraiioo 
next  long  vacation.  Perhaps  your  furlough  desldcrium  may  have 
returned,  and  we  may  go  together.  I  want  some  vision  of  this 
sort  to  divert  my  attention  from  present  circumstances.  I  pass 
my  time  very  stupidly.  I  have  only  been  at  two  or  three  gay 
entertainments  during  the  whole  course  of  the  holidays.  I  am 
pleased,  however,  to  find  that  when  I  do  go  into  society  I  can 
support  my  part  with  decency.     On  Sunday  I  assisted  at  a  grand 


1814.] 


DECREASE  OF  BUSINESS. 


309 


dinner,  given  by  Sir  Nathaniel  Conant,  the  chief  magistrate  of 
police,  where  I  met  the  Solicitor-General,  his  wife,  and  a  great 
number  of  dashing  people.  My  matrimonial  schemes,  however, 
arc  not  likely  to  prosper.  Two  girls  that  I  had  thought  of  are 
going  to  be  narried  to  my  rivals.  At  the  same  time  I  had  not 
met  with  the  disgrace  of  a  rebuff,  for  I  had  never  spoken  to 
either  of  them  in  my  life. 

Temple,  February  1, 1814. 

My  dear  Father: —  .  .  .  We  are  exceedingly  dull  this 
term  in  Westminster  Hall.  There  is  literally  nothing  to  do. 
The  general  decrease  of  business  is  quite  alarming.  We  ai*e 
almost  08  ill  off  as  the  watermen  who,  the  Thames  being  frozen 
over,  walk  up  and  down  the  streets  with  their  oars  on  their 
shoulders.  We  shall  all  soon  be  in  the  King's  Bench  prison  if 
things  do  not  materially  mend.  I  have  some  thoughts  of  offer- 
ing myself  to  assist  in  shovelling  the  snow  from  the  streets.  At 
that  work  I  should  make  five  shillings  a  day,  which  is  nearly  as 
much  as  is  now  produce<l  to  mc  by  plying  at  the  bar. 

I  met  with  a  mortification  last  Friday  that  I  have  not  yet 
altogether  forgotten.  I  had  to  argue  a  case  reserved  by  Lord 
Ellenborough  for  the  opinion  of  the  whole  Court  of  King's 
Bench.  The  sum  in  dispute  was  £3000,  and  it  involved  a  very 
important  point  of  law.  I  thought  it  so  decidedly  with  me  that 
my  only  apprehension  was  the  judges  would  not  hear  me.  They 
wished  to  stop  me,  but  it  was  from  being  decidedly  against  me, 
and  thinking  my  positions  wholly  untenable.  I  was  not  to  be 
put  down,  however.  They  might  decide  against  me,  but  I  was 
determined  they  should  hear  me.  So  I  kept  it  up  with  them 
the  best  part  of  two  hours,  during  the  whole  of  which  time  I 
had  all  the  four  upon  me.  If  I  posed  one  of  them,  down  came 
another  and  tried  to  overwhelm  me.     It  was  a  complete  baiting. 

They  were  so  puzzled  by  me  that  they  found  it  convenient  to 
heai"  the  opposite  side,  and  I  had  my  reply.  Sentence  was  then 
passed  upon  me  in  most  elaborate  speeches,  from  the  whole  of 
them  seriatim.     I  don't  know  that,  having  made  so  stout  a  fight. 


I..  +,;rthrii| 


Misi 


310 


LIFE  OP  LORD  CAMPBEM,. 


[1814. 


I  loBt  my  reputtttioii.  My  foiiHoliition  was  tlint  Park  and 
Marryat,  who  were  with  mo,  'although  they  had  not  an  opjwr- 
tunity  to  speak,  had  exproHScd  a  ronfidcnt  expeotatlon  of  snccoHH, 
and  eonij)linjento<l  ino  npon  the  tnnniier  I  had  adv(M'ated  the 
cause.* 

I  cannot  now  with  a  safe  conHcieiiec  plead  want  of  leisure  for 
not  filling  my  sheet,  but  i  really  have  no  better  materials  to  fill 
it.  Lord  Eldon  is  determined  t(t  make  no  more  silk  gowns  till 
Bonaparte  is  dethroned,  and  when  the  newi-(  arrives  ho  will  take 
W'ven  years  to  read  the  aifidavits,  and  make  up  his  mind  whether 
the  event  has  really  happened. 

Tfmj.le,  April  2«,  1814. 

My  deau  George  : —  ...  I  came  to  town  on  Friday  the 
12th,  to  see  tlie  illuminatiojis  for  the  downfall  of  Bonaparte. 
Afi  I  passetl  Albemarle  Street  1  saw  I^ouis  XVJII.  preparing  to 
depart  for  Paris.  VV'hen  I  observed  the  CJuards  mounted  before 
his  door  wearing  the  Avhite  eocka<le,  and  thought  of  the  revolu- 
tion tlius  testified,  I  eould  not  refrain  from  tears.  It  can  hardly 
be  a  greater  change  to  i)ass  int<)  a  future  state  of  existence. 
There  is  nothing  like  it  in  the  i»aL~t  histoiy  of  mankind.  You 
may  now  return  on  the  peaceful  seas  and  fmd  your  country  in 
glory  and  trancpiility.  But  you  must  have  heard  it  all  long 
before  this  readies  you,  and  1  can  suggest  nothing  that  has  not 
before  entered  your  mind.  Tin;  Doctor  will  give  you  a  lively 
account  of  the  Cupar  rejoicings.  There  have  l)eeu  similar  mani- 
festations of  rapture  in  every  town  and  village  of  Great  Britain. 
I  expect  to  be  in  Paris  in  little  more  than  four  months.  All  the 
world  are  already  on  the  wing.  In  a  few  days  we  are  to  have  a 
visit  from  the  Emperor  Alexander.  I  hope  he  will  be  received 
with  every  mark  of  res])ect  and  admiration.  Some  say  the  Prin- 
cess Charlotte  is  to  be  married  to  the  young  Prince  of  Orange 
during  his  stay  here.  There  is  no  doubt  the  marriage  will  take 
place  speedily.  Every  man  for  himself.  I  expect  the  event  will 
be  celebrated  by  some  promotion  at  the  bar 


*Moorsom  v.  Kymer,  2  Made  &  Selwyn,  304. 


1814.]       UNI'OPUI-AIUTY   OP  THE   PUINCE  OP   WALhW.  311 

DocH  our  father  wiy  to  yoi', '  I  yet  fomlly  hope  to  see  the  day 
when  Juek  shall  Ik>  iiKlopciidont,  employed  and  re»pe<jte<l?*  This 
\«  the  Ini)gua)j;e  he  (x-caMionally  IioUIh  to  nie — knowing  that  I  make 
somewhere  near  £2()(M)  a  year  and  have  more  business  than  any 
other  man  at  the  bar  of  my  standing.  He  thinks  he  ought  to  read 
my  name  constantly  in  the  newspapers,  |ike  Garrow's  or  Romilly's, 
and  that  all  the  great  causes  should  be  entrusted  to  me. 

Tumplo,  April  22, 1814. 

My  DKAii  FA'riiKis : —  ...  I  have,  you  may  8up|)0se,  seen 
all  the  emperors,  kings,  and  tiehl-marshals  repeatedly.  I  had 
the  best  view  of  them  at  the  opera.  Tlie  Imman  imagination 
can  conceive  nothing  more  brilliant  than  the  coup  d\cU  on  this 
ocwision  ;  an<l  when  the  Princess  of  Wales  came  in  and  seated 
hei-self  opposite  her  husband,  the  interest  was  at  its  height.  The 
pool"  Prince  has  got  himself  into  such  a  scrape  as  no  man  of  his 
rank  ever  was  in  before.  It  is  a  fact  that  he  cannot  show  him- 
self without  being  hissed  and  hooted.  I  have  myself  several 
times  witnessed  this  within  the  last  ten  days.  Unhappily  the 
public  are  more  and  more  exasperatetl  against  him.  On  Monday 
as  he  was  riding  through  St.  James's  Park  to  the  review,  the 
yells  of  the  mob  were  so  loud  that  they  frightenwl  his  horse  and 
he  was  very  near  thrown,  while  the  King  of  Prussia  was  by  his 
side.  As  he  was  returning  from  the  City  they  callal  out  to  him, 
'Where  is  Mrs.  Wales — why  is  she  not  with  you?  George, where 
is  your  wife?'  De(!ent  people  of  course  do  not  join  in  this  ex- 
pression of  intlignation,  but  I  recollect  no  question  upon  which 
there  ever  was  such  complete  unanimity.  The  most  devoted 
friends  of  the  Court  and  Ministry  abuse  him.  The  wantonness 
and  folly  of  the  thing  strike  everyone.  Without  any  compromise 
of  his  feelings  to  his  wife,  he  might  now  have  been  the  most 
popular  prince  that  has  sut  on  the  throne  since  the  time  of 
Edward  III.  She  had  fallen  into  complete  insignificance,  and 
would  soon  have  been  entirely  forgotten.  But  where  the  storm 
he  has  raised  is  to  end  I  know  not.  The  Princess  Charlotte's 
match  is  in  consequence  certainly  off.     He  wished  her  to  go  to 


:u2 


MFR  or    LORD  CAMPHKM.. 


[1814. 


Iiv«>  with  hor  )uihInuu1  iil>r<Kui,  l)oiiiK  jeulouH  of  tho  im|M)rtunoo 
8Im'  would  ocjiuin.'.  FortiiiuUt'ly  tlio  chunu'tcr  of  the  Hovoreijjn 
\H  n«»t  of  vitjil  iin|M)rtjunt»  in  thiH  country,  or  wo  might  t>x|K'ct  to 
Ht>  (liriuial  tiini^i.  It  is  ruinoriHi  that  Jionl  Cii8tU>rea)(h  ruHigna, 
F  tlo  not  iH'Iii'vi'  thin,  hut  he  in  certainly  out  of  favor.  Tho 
Prince  W(HiI(I  not  aciHunpany  tho  Knj|K'ror  to  his/tVf.  I  hardly 
wonder  at  the  wish  exprewwl  in  Hcveral  of  your  Scottixli  addresscH, 
which  have  Invn  thought  rather  «/<»H(7<»'^,  'that  it  would  please 
Heaven  yet  to  ivstore  the  old  King  to  the  exercirto  of  liis 
authority.' 

Of  his  Ini|M>rial  Majesty  I  can  tell  yt)U  little  more  than  you 
rend  in  the  newspa|H'r(».  1  wiisamutjied  by  the  account  Hrougham 
gave  me,  who  had  it  direct  from  Lord  (Jrcy,  of  the  conversation 
when  Givnville  and  he  were  intriMluciHl,  showing  the  intinmto 
knowknlge  tno  KmjH»n>r  has  of  our  attairs,  and  the  great  benefit 
of  foreign  travel!  He  said  *he  very  nuich  admired  tho  English 
Constitution,  and  particularly  that  part  of  it  cidle<l  tho  Opposi- 
tion, which  he  thought  a  very  fine  institution,  lK>ing  a  sort  of 
mirror  in  which  Ministeiv  might  at  all  times  sw  themselves 
and  discover  their  faults.  But  there  was  ono  thing  which 
rather  pu/zknl  him.  As  the  object  of  lH)th  parties  was  of  (-ourse 
the  siune — the  public  gooil — ho  did  not  exactly  understand 
why  the  Opposition  might  not  privately  give  information  and 
advie(>  to  Ministers,  seiTctly  telling  them  what  measures  they 
should  avoid  and  what  they  should  adopt.  Ministers  would 
derive  the  same  advantage  from  these  friendly  conferences  as 
from  uolmtes  in  Parliament,  and  there  would  bo  no  altercation, 
♦>x|H>sure  or  Mat.^  This  was  chiefly  addressed  to  Grey,  who  did 
not  know  well  what  answer  to  return.  His  Majesty  then  turned 
suddenly  round  to  Gi-enville  and  said:  *Qu'en  pcmcz-voiu, 
milord  f  Grenville  obsorvwi  that  the  plan  ap|)eare<l  very  l)eau- 
tiful,  but  he  doubted  whether  it  was  practicable.  If  all  this  had 
been  said  maliciously  by  his  Majesty,  it  would  have  been  admir- 
able, but  being  spoken  with  tho  most  perfect  simplicity  and  good 
faith,  it  certainly  argues  not  a  very  profound  acquaintance  with 
political  science.    However,  he  observed  that  he  approved  of  the 


1814.] 


MURDER  TRIAL  AT  STAFFORD. 


313 


EngUHh  CoiiHtitution  ho  inu<!li,  tluit  he  iiituiulv<l  to  iiitriKliut)  it 
by  dt>)(i^>cH  into  UiiHNia.  Tlivy  wore  not  cuiNiblu  of  receiving  it 
thuri!  nil  ut  oii(H>,  l)ut  ho  nhotihl  ^ivo  thoiu  m  iiuich  of  it  im  tlioy 
wero  ahio  to  hour.  IIo  oortiiinly  in  an  oxtronioly  lM>novolont  and 
utniablo  man,  Ah  niif^ht  Ir;  oxiKt'ttHl,  \h\  \m  l>y  no  nioann  a  favor- 
ite witli  our  niaKiiiiiiiiooii'*  lt<'^ont,  wlio  is  heartily  tire<l  of  him. 
Amon}^t  other  delin()Uonoies,  ho  lian  lioon  civil  to  the  Dukes  of 
8u!4riex  and  (lloufXHtitr,  viniteil  lionKiroy.anddiiiittHJ  witliHeveral 
hulies  not  admitttul  at  Carlton  House. 


8hr«wnljuiy,  Augui«t  0, 1814. 

My  dkau  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  The  only  ease  of  intert'Ht  I  have 
l)een  cngajj^ed  in,  wa^  defending  a  man  at  Stafford  for  the  nmrder 
uf  IiIh  wife.  I  never  felt  sucli  anxiety  iH'fore,  and  I  iiope  I  never 
Hhall  again.  There  waH  strong  evidence  against  the  prisoner,  and 
yet  his  guilt  was  extremely  doubtful,  so  that  his  fate  very  much 
de|)onde<l  upon  the  manner  in  which  his  defonee  was  eonduetinl. 
Ho  was  a  man  of  the  most  excellent  chanictor  and  was  most 
devotedly  attached  to  his  wife,  lie  was  sup)M)So<l  to  liave  stablxnl 
her  in  a  tit  of  jealousy.  I  Ixilievo  that  he  did  the  deoil,  but  from 
the  obscurity  east  over  the  transjiction  and  the  sympathy  excited 
for  him,  I  exixjeteii  an  acquittal.  TIh;  jury  after  long  delilK-ini- 
tiun  found  him  ijailtif.  I  am  certain  I  was  much  more  agitated 
than  the  prisoner,  and  felt  the  blow  more  severely.  I  liavo  often 
heard  sentence  of  death  pronounce<l  upon  my  clients  with  great 
composure,  but  on  this  occasion  I  almost  fainted  away.  I  laid 
my  account  with  his  being  hanged  on  Thursday.  However,  in 
about  half  an  hour  after,  the  gentlemen  of  the  county  constituting 
the  gmnd  jury,  who  had  withdrawn  after  the  trial,  returned  in  a 
body  and  petitioned  the  judge  that  execution  might  be  respited, 
to  give  an  opportunity  to  apply  for  mercy  to  the  Crown.  The 
judge  immediately  granted  the  petition,  and  there  is  no  doubt  the 
man  will  be  pardoned.  I  was  selected  as  his  counsel  by  persons 
to  whom  I  was  an  entire  stranger,  and  who  had  merely  heard  me 
defend  Howe.  (This  client  of  mine  was  hung  in  chains  near 
Stourbridge,  and  I  pass  him  always  in  travelling  from  Worces- 

VOL  I.  14 


1'  1 


'  r  1 


311 


LirR  or   I.OItI)  OAMPIIKI.I.. 


[1814. 


tor).  If  y«>ii  wiTf  not  iiIrt'iMl;'  tin**!  wiili  tliiM  nulyirt,  I  tniKht 
have  luiiiHcd  yitii  liy  |N)iiitin;;  out  tli«>  iniirvclloiiH  r<'H4>iiil)liui<-i> 
lx't\V('«'ii  tin-  riHc  of  lliviin,  iny  cliciit  at  Stall'ortI,  and  that  of 
'Otiii'llo,  tilt'  MiMir  ot'  N'«'ni(H'.'  Tlicy  iMttli  rciuHoni'd,  H|H>k(>,  uti*| 
Ht'ti'tl  alinoMt  exactly  in  tli(>  Hanii'  way.  Thcix*  wiw  tliJH  rcinark- 
ul)I«'  dilli'i't'nre  iM'twecn  tli«-in,  howt'ViM" — that  the  fonncr,  instead 
of  'putting  out  the  li^ht,'  wantetl  'a  tlainin^  niinixter,'  ninl 
iM'fore  reN'on^in^  his  Hii|i|ioM'd  wrongs,  he  ^rot  up  and  lighted  a 
candle.  Nor  did  \\v  resolve  not  'to  s<'ar  that  whiter  skin  of  hers 
than  snow,  and  smooth  as  nioininiental  alai)aster,'  for  he  at  once 
filahhed  her  in  the  thi^h  with  a  carving;  knife.  I  wish  you  had 
lu'urd  nie  exatuinin^  the  siir;;;e«in  ahont  arteries,  the  muscles,  tVe. 
The  iii^ht  lii.'fore  I  went  to  a  surgeon's,  and  he  showed  me  a  pre- 
j)areil  sul>jec(,  and  ^ive  me  a  lecture  on  anatoniy  an  hour  lon^;. 

There  is  a  madman  at  ()\for<l  of  the  name  of  Hickcrton  wli<» 
has  taken  it  into  his  head  that  he  is  a  liarrist(<r-at-law.  lie  has 
accordingly  contrived  to  pr<K>ure  an  old  wijr  and  p)wn,  in  which 

hti  travels  about  the  country  and  walks  int urt,  following'  us 

rcfjularly  I'roni  t(»wn  to  t<»  town.  He  is  p"rfectly  harndess,  aii<l 
p<H>pl«  rather  encounij^e  his  fantasy.  If  his  j^oin^  the  circuit  in 
thirt  manner  were  to  Itc  considered  conclnsive  proof  of  insanity, 
it  mi^ht  Ik)  very  ularminjr  to  many  of  us.  \Ve  must  live  on  hope. 
Khiun  naiy  still  l)o  comiK-lled  to  mak«'  silk  jrnwns,  and  Ahhott 
may  he  a  judfje  before  Lent.  In  the  meanwhile,  notwithstanding; 
an  (M><usional  pan);  of  disappointment,  the  time  runs  on  notdis- 
agreeahly.  The  young  men  who  have  joineil  as  recruits  are 
extremely  plejwant  companions,  and  with  the  two  judges,  Dallas 
and  Richards,  who  are  uncommoidy  gentlemanlike  men,  I  aiu 
almost  an  familiar. 


Temple,  August  29. 1811. 

My  deak  Fatheii: —  .  .  .  When  at  Monmouth,  my  busi- 
ness l)eing  over,  I  resolved  to  see  Tintern  Abbey,  ten  or  twelve 
miles  oft',  the  most  IxMUitiful  (iothic  ruin  in  Great  IJritain,  and 
which  to  my  disgrace  I  had  not  before  seen.  The  sure  way  to 
make  attorneys  cojue  is  to  be  from  your  post.     In  this  instance  I 


ISII.J 


jouuNKv  To  (iri'Aii,  rirE. 


.11 T) 


w:m  liimll}'  ^;oiiL>  when  ii|>|ili<'iitiniiH  t'liniv  i'nv  iiic  t^t  attend  tliruo 
(litl'cri'iit  writM  of  iiii|iiiiT  \vlii<'lk  iiiUHt  liav(>  Itmii^lit  iiic  ten  ^iii- 
u*'W.  llowt'viT,  I  liiirilly  regret  tin;  Iohm,  ho  iiiik'Ii  wum  I  (^ratitlc*! 
>villi  what  1  Hiiw.  We  .sto|i|H'(l  ho  Ioii^  that  \v«>  w«'I'l>  lM>iii)(ht(il 
uimI  miw«'«l  our  way.  When  we  thought  wi*  wtTo  vUm-  hy  Moii- 
nioiith,  wr  toiiiul  \\v  were  approat-hiii^  the  Fori'Ht  of  Dean  in 
(ilou<>«-Hl«'i-Hhir(>,  aii«l  w«>  ditl  not  i'(>a<-h  honu;  till  one  in  the  morn- 
ing. \V(>  hail  walked  near  thirty  niilcH.  Yet  1  wiim  not  nt  all 
t'utiffncd.  I  wa.s  greatly  di>li}(ht('d  in  paHnin^  through  ('helten- 
liiun  from  the  cin  nit  to  aneeitain  that  I  am  nu>v  half  u  Htoiie 
hghter  than  I  was  throe  yeurw  ago. 

C'u|iar,  Hoptunibor  ID,  1H14. 

My  DHAit  (iKoiuiK : — Ikhold  me  ont«  more  under  the  ))at<>rnal 
roof.  All  well  and  happy  I  I  left  Jjondun,  an  1  told  you,  on 
the  evening  of  Saturday  the  lOth.  I  came  down  Htraight  to 
Kdinhurgh,  where  I  arrived  on  Tuesday  morning  at  mx.  o'elock, 
not  at  all  fatigued  by  my  journey.  Aci^rding  to  the  directiouH 
I  receivcil  from  my  father,  1  took  a  place  in  the  Fife  Union 
Coach,  which  has  ix'en  estal)lishe<l  about  three  yeare.  It  HturtH 
every  morning,  whatever  be  the  state  of  the  tide,  at  half-pa>4t 
seven  from  yhakenpeare  8<|uarc  for  the  new  i'erry  at  Newhavcn, 
and  arrives  at  Cupar  almont  invariably  before  tliree.  They  don't 
start  from  Kinghorn  till  eleven,  however  soon  the  passage  may 
be  made,  making  allowance  for  the  passage  being  bad,  so  as  to  U; 
regular  in  the  times  at  which  they  pass  the  ditlerent  places  in 
croRsing  the  country  to  Dundee  wateraide.  We  crossed  the  Forth 
very  expeditiously,  but  had  to  wait  nt  Kinghorn  an  hour  and  a 
half.  I  might  easily,  l)y  leaving  the  mail  at  Ijeith  and  travelling 
in  a  post-clmisc,  have  reached  Cupar  by  eleven  o'clock  A.M.  As 
it  was,  1  fancy  no  one  ever  iK'foie  travelle<l  thither  from  London 
so  expeditiously.  1  had  an  inside  j)lace  by  the  Fife  cK»aeh,  but 
seated  myself  by  the  coachman,  and  very  much  enjoyed  the  pros- 
jHict  as  1  rotle  along.  The  improvement  of  the  country  is  won- 
derful, and  there  are  few  such  fertile  districts  in  the  island.  In 
a  little  time  there  will  not  be  a  spot  in  the  country  that  does  not 


■''ViSM 


310  I. IKK  (»'    14)1(1)  CAMI'IIKI.I,.  [IHU. 

onrry  i<<irii  or  trLtM.  Am  I  (iuiu>  in  M^Ut  of  VaU'h  itrul);!'  t  ri>. 
ct))(iii7.i>(l  till*  vi'm>rul)lu  (i^urc  of  our  father,  You  niity  Im-  huw  it 
wiiM  not  loii)(  Moni  I  Hpruti);  from  the  ('«hu'Ii-In»x  into  Imh  urnm. 
II<>  l(M>kM,  tliunk  (}(nI,  fr(>Mli  iiikI  lu'tirty.  Ii«>  ciintinucH  to  cnjov 
all  hiM  fiutilticH  nu'iitnl  and  IxMlily  in  tlu' c>«>ni|il(>t(<Ht nianuiT.  He 
Im  a  littltt  Htitt*  and  mn't  HttNip  v(>ry  well,  but  \n>  can  walk  (ivtt  or 
hIx  milvM  with  the  uttniwt  fa<>ility,  lie  myn  \n>  in  now  nixty- 
Hcvon — that  in  to  wiy,  in  hix  Hixty-t'i^hth  yoar — hin  birthday  ImIm^^ 
in  June.  I  n'ally  U'licvt;  there  are  few  men  of  hid  ugu  who  have 
u  fairer  ehancH;  of  longevity.  .  .  , 

Ttm  pi  A,  October  :i,  1811 

My  DKAU  Fatiikii: —  .  .  .  The  pleiwure  of  our  meeting  and 
the  hitterneHM  of  our  parting  we  neetl  not  t'xpreHH  to  each  other, 
our  feclingH  Ixiing,  I  In-lieve,  eimjplcf'ly  n'ciprooal.  The  fort- 
night I  H|)ent  with  you  I  conr«ider  aH  that  in  which  1  enjoye<l  thi> 
nioHt  huppiiK>>*H,  and  nhall  liM)k  l>ack  u|H)n  with  the  mo^t  Hatinfaf 
tion  of  any  |H'ri(Ml  of  my  life.  The  ()ue«tion  naturally  (M-eur^, 
why  do  you  not  ta«te  such  happincHW  inore  fretjuently  ?  1  ho|M? 
it  will  Im!  in  my  |>owcr  in  time  to  come,  but  I  can  declare  u|M)n 
my  honor,  and  with  the  most  certain  conviction,  that  if  1  lia<l 
been  in  the  hubit  of  visiting  Scotland  in  the  long  vamtion,  I 
Hhould  never  have  visitnl  you  in  the  same  resiHH!tabl(>  situation 
which  1  have  now  attained,  and  that  the  exercise  of  self-ileniid 
in  remaining  away  has  U|n>u  the  whole  contributeil  to  the  happi- 
ness of  us  all.  I  contidently  ex))ect  to  see  you  much  oftener  and 
longer  in  time  to  come  than  I  have  done  of  late  years.  Having 
got  a  step  or  two  more,  I  shall  command  business  and  regard  the 
long  vacation  as  my  own  projK'rty — not  to  sjjcak  of  the  possibil- 
ity of  my  marrying  and  having  a  visit  from  you  in  the  winter ! 

I  continued  very  wretched  till  we  reached  Newcastle.  There 
I  bought  *  The  Pleasures  of  Memory,'  and  placed  myself  on  the 
top  of  the  coach  to  muse  over  it  without  interruption.  About 
half  way  to  Durham  we  met  the  mail  from  London  carrying  a 
large  flag,  *  Washington  taken  and  destroyed ! '  I  thought  of  the 
fillip  this  would  give  to  your  spirits  on  the  arrival  of  the  Union 


IMt4.J 


MIMN   O'NKII.,   Tll»:    AtrrHRNN. 


317 


nt  Tiipr  nti  FrMiiy.  I  mot  with  pttiMint  i<f)in|Miny,  nii<1  (w>in- 
|t|i>ti><|  till'  Joiifiii  V  without  liny  tiitigiic  It' you  wimIi  in<<  to  itiiio 
with  yoii  liny  tiny,  you  hiivc  only  to  ilrop  nic  n  lino.  I  «iui  |iur- 
tnk«>  of  your  hmpitiility  ant!  rotiirn  with  nutxi  ciiw'  in  nix  <liiyi»— 
M|N*ii(lin^  with  you  ono  diiy  iiikI  one  u'mUt,  IC  you  ninko  it  on  n 
'I'lH-wliiy,  Wnliu'wlay,  or  'riiiirwliiy,  I  run  In>  with  you  thrffiJayM 
tiiMJ  two  ni);htH,  In-in^;  out  ot'  liontion  only  Mix  working;  ihiyn. 
'riiin  liiMt  trip  liiu«  hrou^ht  ini>  much  ni>ari>r  you  in  iilvn  thiin  for- 
iiiirlv. 

TtmpU,  Nov«mb«r  fi,  1814. 

My  vv.xh  liiuyriiKii: —  .  .  .  My  poor  friond  T«kI  (li«Hl  yon^ 
ti'rtluy  niornin^  at  xix  o'cltM-k.  I  novor  mot  with  ho  much  kind- 
iM>HM  from  any  human  iN'in^  out  of  my  own  family.  HuHutU'rtil 
tlit>  moHt  di'Mulful  pain  for  yoarM.  .  .  . 

My  chief  nmiiMomont  liitoly  \u\n  Ik-oii  tho  tht>atro.  A  iw>w 
iictroHM,  MImm  O'Noil,  hiif*  latoly  oomo  out,  tho  moHt  oxquiHitit 
orcaturo  that  over  wan  Ih'IioUI.  I  not  only  admiro  hor  onthu!«i- 
a.^'tically  an  an  (irtiM/r,  hut  I  roally  think  I  am  in  lovo  with  \un\ 
My  romanoo,  howovor,  will  noon  \h'.  Holn-rod  tlown  hy  tho  IiiImm'm 
of  H|M>oial  ploadiii);.  It  will  hardly  Ih'  |M>HHil)lo  for  nw  to  go  to 
Mm' play  apiin  iH'forc  ChriHtiuas. 

Court  of  Kind's  Bmuli,  Novpmlmr  21),  1814. 

My  dkau  Fatiikk: — I  have  Juwt  j^ot  a  frank  from  my  friend 
Scrjciint  li('.->t,  and  I  will  send  you  an  account  «»f  my  vldonj 
ort'i' Klhnhoi'oHtjh  !  On  Friday  I  had  hcon  iirjfiiiii^!;  a  (juostioii 
•whether  a  consul  i.s  privilejicd  from  arrest/  and  in  coininentiii(; 
npuii  liarheiit's  case  hefore  liord  Talhot,  in  which  the  privilc^je 
was  di^allowed,  I  oltserved  it  was  remarkahle  that  (as  ap|)eared 
IVdiii  a  note  to  the  report)  ihe  Secritary  of  State  afterwanls  in- 
terfered and  satisfied  I5:iri»eiit's  creditors,  so  that  he  was  di»- 
eliarjifed  out  of  custody.  Klleiil»oroiij;li  came  down  to  the  court 
iiixt  morninji  in  a  fireat  fury  and,  haviiiu  taken  his  seat  on  the 
liciieh,  the  foUowinj^  dialo^iu;  took  place: 

Fjllrnhorowjh. — It  was  stated  at  tho  har  yesterday,  that  it  np- 


\m 


iMU|||i 


318 


LIFE  OF  LOKD  CAM£'BELL. 


[1814. 


peared  from  a  note  to  Barbent's  case,  the  Secretary  of  State  inter- 
fered and  he  was  discharged  out  of  custody. 

Campbell. — Yes,  my  Lord,  that  (iircuinstanoc  is  mentioned  in 
a  note  subjoinetl  to  the  report  of  the  caHc  in  Omen  (cnipore  Talbot. 

Elkiiborouffh. — I  have  looked  at  the  report,  and  no  such  note 
is  to  be  found. 

Campbell. — I  cited  the  case  from  the  octavo  etlition,  in  which 
there  certainly  is  the  note  I  referral  to.  I  have  got  my  copy  in 
an  adjoining  room,  and  I  can  now  iinxlucc  it  to  the  Court. 

Ellenboroagh  (funbunclutt). — Sir,  that  is  the  edition  I  have 
looked  to.  I  have  brought  doAvn  ujy  co[)y,  whicli  is  now  before 
me.  There !  I  will  hand  it  down  to  you,  Sir,  and  I  will  thank 
you  to  find  me  out  the  note.  (Book  handed  down,  or  rather 
thrown  at  my  head,  by  his  lordship.) 

Campbell  (with  great  firmneas  and  dignity). — My  Lord,  in  the 
Look  which  your  lordship  had  the  kindticm  to  hand  down  to  nie 
I  find  subjoined  to  Barbent's  case  the  following  note:  'Xoter 
The  Secretary  of  State  afterwards  interfered  and  satisfied  the 
creditors,  and  this  person  was  discharged  out  of  custody.' 

Ellenhorough  (in  confusion). — Indeed !  Let  me  see  the  book. 
Yes,  it  is  so.  I  had  overlooked  it.  You  were  right,  Sir;  you 
were  warranted  in  what  you  said! 

A  great  sensation  was  excited  in  the  court,  and  I  was  congratu- 
lated by  my  friends. 

Temple,  December  1, 1814. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  .  .  .  Ellenhorough  continues  to  use 
me  very  ill.  I  do  not  much  mind  him.  Not  but  that  his  enmity 
is  a  serious  evil.  From  the  perpetual  droad  of  his  interruptions 
and  rudeness,  I  certainly  do  not  a(!(piit  myself  so  (ireditably 
before  him  as  I  should  before  any  other  judge  ;  but  I  do  n'ot 
believe  that  he  materially  impedes  my  progress.  Aly  receipts 
still  go  on  increasing,  but  I  am  forced  to  enslave  and  devote 
myself  in  a  manner  which  I  very  much  dislike.  1  am  cut  otf 
from  all  society  except  what  I  meet  in  thecoui-ts  of  justice.  Nor 
do  I  know  how  I  could  act  otherwise.     I  cannot  sjiy,  I  will  go 


1814.] 


THE  VERULAM  CLUB. 


31» 


into  company  three  days  in  the  week  and  give  up  half  my  busi- 
ness. Were  I  to  make  the  experiment,  I  should  soon  be  left 
without  any.  This  is  a  very  great  drawback  upon  the  profession 
of  the  law  in  England.  Marriage  really  seems  out  of  the  ques- 
tion with  me.  I  have  not  conversed  for  months  witli  any  woman 
I  would  marrj'. 

The  club  which  I  mentioned  to  you  is  now  established,  and  is 
calletl  *  The  Verulam.'  I  hope  to  see  you  a  member  of  it  upon 
your  return.  If  you  are  living  in  London  you  will  really  find 
it  a  very  great  resource.  There  are  four  hundred  of  us — peers, 
bankers,  merchants,  but  chiefly  barristers.  We  have  taken  a 
most  magnificent  house  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  for  which  we 
pay  £375  a  year.  It  is  superbly  furnished.  We  have  a  maitre 
d'hdtel  and  a  variety  of  footmen  to  wait  upon  us.  We  go  at  all 
hours  to  read  the  newspapers  and  periodical  publications.  Every 
day  there  is  a  house  dinner  for  fourteen,  served  up  in  the  most 
splendid  style.  As  many  more  as  choose  may  dine  separately  in  the 
coifee  room.  In  the  evening  the  rooms  above  stairs  are  lighted  up 
for  cards  and  conversation.  The  original  subscription  ten  guineas, 
and  five  guineas  a  year  afterwards.  I  assure  you  it  is  a  very 
pleasant  thing,  and  secures  you  an  admission  at  all  times  to 
excellent  male  society.  I  do  not  say  ours  is  the  most  fashionable 
circle  in  town,  but  I  am  sure  there  is  none  more  intellectual. 
We  have  a  good  many  members  of  Parliament,  and  a  vast  num- 
ber of  young  men  recently  from  the  universities,  besides  the 
dignitaries  of  the  profession  of  the  law.  I  dined  there  two  days 
ago  in  company  with  the  Attorney-  and  Solicitor-General.  The 
expense  is  more  than  that  of  a  coffee-house,  but  this  to  me  is  no 
longer  of  importance.  The  house  dinner  approaches  a  pound ; 
the  other  somewhat  more  than  half.  I  am  afraid  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  dine  there  very  often,  but  I  propose  to  go  frequently  for 
half-an-hour  in  the  evening.  It  is  rather  a  bore  that  you  must 
be  dressed,  but  were  it  not  for  the  time  required  by  the  toilet, 
this  would  rather  be  an  advantage.  I  trust  I  shall  have  interest 
to  get  you  admitted,  and  I  really  know  no  place  where  we  could 
meet  so  comfortably  together. 


*  i  i  f'l! 


ft? 


320 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1816. 


CHA1»TER  XI. 


Januart,  1815— Deoeubeb,  1816, 

Epiphany  Sessions — Wilkie's  'Distress  lor  Rent' — Battle  of  Waterloo— Qif. 
ford's  Success  on  the  Western  Circuit — Letters  from  Paris — Increase  of 
his  Bui<iness  in  Case-answoring — Miss  O'Neil  and  Mdlle.  Mars— The 
Waverley  Novels — Case  before  the  Master  of  the  Rolls — Abbott  made  a 
Judge — Case  of  Webster  against  the  'St.  James's  Chronicle' — Lady 
Frances  Webster — Squabble  with  Sir  Vicary  Qibbs — Lays  down  his 
Reports  and  sets  up  Riding  Horses — Retires  to  Bognor  for  his  Health- 
Publishes  the  last  Number  of  his  Reoorts. 

,,,  Temple,  January  16, 1816, 

My  dear  Father  : — J  had  the  greatest  pleasure  in  receiv- 
ing your  letter  of  the  6th  at  Gloucester.  You  appear  to  be 
going  on  as  well  as  we  could  desire.  Continue  a  determined 
aquatic  and  you  may  play  at  curling  for  many  winters  to  come. 
I  have  often  heaiil  a  .saying  of  Dr.  Baillie  quoted,  that  *no  man 
ever  suffered  from  giving  up  wine,  which  is  as  unneces-saiy  and 
unnatural  to  a  man  as  to  u  hcn-se.'  .  .  .  Serjeant  Lens  is  about 
sixty.  Romilly,  of  the  same  age,  has  lately  abjured  wine,  and 
so  has  Mr.  Baron  Adam,  who  is  jis  old  as  yourself.  By  a  person 
who  has  a  relish  foi*  intellectual  pleasures,  I  should  think,  the 
privation  cannot  be  very  severely  felt.  Paley  (the  son  of  the 
Archdeacon)  and  several  young  men  of  my  acquaintan({>,  who 
never  taste  anything  but  water,  tell  me  that  they  not  only  have 
better  health  than  when  they  drank  wine,  beer,  &c.,  but  quite  as 
much  enjoyment  of  life. 

I  got  back  to  town  by  the  mail  yesterday  morning.  I  met 
with  nothing  like  disivster  in  the  course  of  my  excursion,  except 
when  travelling  between  Gloucester  and  Monmouth.  In  going 
do'wn  I  was  obliged  to  walk  the  greater  part  of  the  way,  from 
the  road  being  frozen  and  the  horses  not  rough-shod,  and  in 
coming  back  the  coach  was  almost  demolished,  from  the  state  of 


1816.] 


PEAC'K   WITH   AMERICA. 


821 


the  road  ocoasjoned  by  the  thaw,  and  I  was  forced  to  come  on 
with  the  guard  in  a  chaise  and  four.  What  I  have  chiefly  to 
boast  of  this  Epiphany,  is  keeping  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Beau- 
fort, our  Lord-Tji'eutenant,  in  a  roar  of  laughter  for  an  hour 
together.  I  assure  you  he  thought  it  a  very  witty  speech.  I 
was  afraid  he  would  have  gone  into  convulsions.  Ho  was  in 
particular  danger  when  I  was  describing  a  bed  of  junflee,  held 
by  a  farmer  and  his  wife  about  turning  away  a  maid-servant 
who  had  returned  from  the  fair  after  the  family  had  retired  to 
rest  and,  in  pursuance  of  a  resolution  formed  by  her  master  and 
mistress  before  they  rose,  was  discharged  in  the  morning  with- 
out any  opportunity  of  being  heard  in  her  defence.  The  poor 
girl  had  only  been  out  with  her  sweetheart,  and  I  quoted  in  her 
favor  the  lines  of  my  countryman  Burns,  in  his  '  Cotter's  Satur- 
day Night,'  that  picture  of  rustic  purity : 


1  i; 


But  hark !  a  rap  comes  gently  *.o  the  door. 

Jenny,  wha  kens  the  meaning  of  the  same, 
Tells  how  a  neebor  lad  came  o'er  the  moor 

To  do  some  errands  and  convoy  her  liame. 


I  expected  on  my  arrival  in  town  to  have  heard  that  Chambre 
and  Dampier  had  resigned,  and  Park  and  Abbott  were  appointed 
ill  their  places.  I  find  Dampier  better,  and  Chambre  having 
given  up  all  thoughts  of  retiring.  It  is  hard  that  oui-s'  is  the 
only  profession  in  which  there  is  no  promotion. 

The  American  treaty  is  sure  to  be  ratified.*  The  funds  are 
kept  down  by  the  Congress  at  Vienna,  and  the  enormous  arrears 
to  be  paid  off  if  tranquillity  were  finally  established. 

Temple,  May  8. 1816. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  am  very  apt  to  be  dissatisfied 
and  to  think  that  I  am  going  to  the  Devil.  Yet  when  I  examine 
ray  fee  book  I  find  the  result  always  exceeds  the  corresponding 

*  Peace  with  America  had  been  concluded  at  Qhent  December  24,  1814,  the 
war  having  lasted  nearly  three  years. — Ed. 


322 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL 


[1815. 


period  of  tlio  tuniier  year.  1  have  uot  lately  had  any  serious 
Het-to  with  my  Loril,*  but  we  do  not  get  on  eomfortably  together. 
He  has  still  particular  pleasure  in  discharging  my  rule  or  iu 
making  one  absolute  against  me.  However,  he  shall  treat  me 
with  respect,  if  not  with  favor.  I  chiefly  regret  his  brutality 
on  the  ground  that  it  makes  me  so  nervous,  and  checks  the 
fair  display  of  my  faculties.  Now,  as  when  I  was  first  called  to 
the  bar,  when  it  ai)proaches  me  to  move,  my  pulse  goes  at 
the  rate  of  about  250  in  a  minute,  and  I  hardly  know  whether 
I  um  on  my  head  or  my  heels.  But  I  am  fierce  enough 
when  tlie  combat  is  once  begun.  I  never  speak  above  two 
sentences  without  being  interrupted.  Then  I  stick  up  in  pro])er 
style.  Ui)on  the  whole,  things  have  about  as  good  a  chance  with 
me  as  in  the  hands  of  most  others.  Indeed,  there  is  uotliing 
very  peculiar  in  Ellenborough's  manner  to  me.  '  He  is  almost 
equally  boisterous  to  all. 

In  the  midst  of  professional  mortifications  I  am  rather  revived 
by  the  aspect  of  public  aifaii's.  We  are  all  pei-suaded  here  that 
Bonaparte  is  going  on  very  badly,  and  that  he  will  make  but  a 
poor  fight  of  it.  The  royalists  hate  him ;  the  Jacobins  distrust 
him,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  nation  stand  indifferent.  There  is 
no  saying  what  he  may  accomplish  ;  but  he  certainly  never  had 
such  difficulties  to  struggle  with  till  the  very  close  of  the  hist 
campaign. 

I  have  boon  to  the  Exhibition.  The  great  attraction  there  is 
Wilkie's  '  Distress  for  Kent.'  It  is  out  of  sight  the  best  picture 
in  the  whole  collection.  Nay,  from  what  I  have  myself  observed 
and  heard,  I  believe  he  is  a  greater  artist  than  any  one  of  the 
Dutch  or  Flemish  .«chool.  His  execution  is  equal  to  that  of 
Tenicrs  or  Ostade,  and  he  has  far  more  genius.  They  are  mere 
<;oi)yists  of  gross  nature;  but  he  represents  what  never  WJis 
actually  seen,  and  yet  may  be  conceived  to  exist.  There  is  more 
mind  in  this  single  piece  than  in  a  whole  gallery  of  Flemish 
boors  smoking  and  skating.     A  very  choice  collection  of  that 


♦Lord  Ellenborough. 


1815.] 


BATTLE  OP  WATERLOO. 


323 


Hchool  is  uow  exhibiting  in  Pall  Mull.  The  Rcgunt  untl  uU  the 
grout  collcctora  have  uotitributod  to  it,  but  it  coiitaiiiM  nothing  as 
good  as  Wilkie.* 

Toin]ile,  Juno  29, 1816. 

My  dear  BR(yriiKR: —  .  .  .  Wlmt  will  you  say  when  you 
hear  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  and  its  consequences!  I  can 
settle  to  nothing.  We  believe  that  Wellington  will  be  in  Paris 
to-day.  Otto  is  just  arrived.  The  Jacobins  behave  veiy  absurdly. 
They  cannot  expect  to  be  recognized  for  a  moment  as  the  Gov- 
ernment of  France.  T  intend  to  go  to  the  Continent  in  the  end 
of  August  or  beginning  of  September.  Before  Bonaparte 
returned  I  had  talked  of  going  to  Rome.  Now  I  shall  be 
satisfied  with  a  tour  of  Dieppe,  Paris,  Waterloo  and  Ostend. 
But  I  should  not  be  surprised  were  there  still  some  bloody 
doings  at  Paris  before  the  thing  is  settled. 

July  5,  1816. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  A  friend  of  mine  returned  two 
days  ago  from  Waterloo,  having  run  over  to  see  the  scene  of  the 
battle.  He  says  thei'e  are  very  few  murks  of  devastation  to  be 
discovered.  The  corn  is  trampled  down  along  the  line,  which 
extended  about  a  mile  and  a  hulf,  but  in  the  next  field  to  that  in 
which  thousaaids  were  slaughtered,  the  clover  was  growing  most 
luxuriantly.  The  dead  had  all  been  buried  in  deep  pits,  the 
fresh  earth  over  which  wa.s  very  di.stinguishable.  But  in  all 
other  respects  the  country  had  resumed  its  former  appearance, 
and  the  operations  of  husbandry  were  going  on  as  if  nothing  htul 
happened.  I  hojie  to  give  you  an  account  of  the  scene  from  my 
own  observation  before  the  long  vacation  is  over 

Temple,  August  14, 1815. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  If  it  i)lcu.se  God  that  my  health 
continues,  I  conceive  that  I  may  cjilculate  with  certainty  upon 

*  Wilkie's  '  Distraining  for  Rent'  was  bought  by  the  Directors  of  the  British 
Institution  for  600  guineas.  See  Life  of  Sir  David  Wilkie,  by  Allan  Cunning- 
ham.— Ed. 


r     1  if  ■y.-Tt-.m 


i-i-irpiili 

i': 

■  \:( 


I 


H 


324 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


1816.] 


being  the  leader  of  the  Oxford  circuit.  Sin<^»  I  was  callwl  to 
the  bar  there  is  only  one  man  who  has  Hiiccet'ded  more  rajddlv 
upon  any  other  circuit.  That  iu  Gifford,  who  goes  the  Wost- 
em,  and  will  soon  be  at  the  top  of  it.  He  is  a  very  clever  man, 
and  at  present  docs  business  in  considerably  better  style  than  I 
do.  My  general  acquirements  are  superior,  and  I  flatter  myscdf 
my  mental  resources  not  infi'ri(»r,  but  he  addresses  the  court  with 
a  steadiness  and  neatness  M'hich  I  vmi  only  hope  to  imitate.  Mo 
owes  his  succcas,  however,  in  u  gocxl  measure  to  powerful  local 
connections.  He  had  that  mixture  of  luck  likewise  which  !» 
always  necessary  to  produce  any  brilliant  result;  for  just  as  lui 
was  getting  forward,  Dampicr  was  taken  off,  and  he  stepiKHJ 
into  his  shoes.  Had  he  gone  upon  the  circuit  a  mere  stranger, 
and  worked  on  without  Jissistunce  from  any  quarter,  and  with- 
out the  removal  of  any  man  in  business,  I  know  not  that  he 
would  have  been  much  higher  than  myself.  I  have  far  more 
business  in  London ;  but  anyone  would  prefer  his  station  and 
reputation  in  the  profession  to  mine.  Consider,  however,  that 
several  hundreds  have  been  called  to  the  bar  since  we  started, 
many  of  whom  had  more  formidable  advantages  of  various 
descriptions,  and  that  I  have  been  outstripped  only  by  one 
Ought  I  rot  to  be  satisfied  both  with  myself  and  with  my  good 
fortune  ? 

We  finished  at  Gloucester  on  Saturday  the  5th.  I  was  nearly 
knocked  up.  One  day  we  went  into  court  at  eight  in  the  morn 
ing  and  adjournal  to  half-past  two  the  next  morning.  I  resolved 
to  stay  at  Cheltenham  a  few  days  to  recruit.  I  had  a  very  agree- 
able companion,  Maule,  a  senior  Avrangler  (that  is  to  say,  a  luaa 
who  has  gained  the  highest  mathematical  honors  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Cambridge).* 

I  have  passed  my  time  very  pleasantly  since  I  returned  to  the 
Temple.  I  have  often  told  you  how  I  liked  London  in  the  long 
vacation.  I  now  chiefly  devote  myself  to  novel  reading,  for 
which  I  thank  heaven  I  have  lost  no  whit  of  my  former  reh'sh. 


*  Made  a  judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  November,  1839  ;  died,  1858.— Eo 


1815.J 


VUJIT  TO  PAU18. 


325 


ThuiMi  puppleti  of  utturiicyH  do  intrude  ui)on  me  a  little,  and 
compel  inu  to  answer  ciwea  ior  thcni.  TIiIh  very  morning  I  was 
forced  to  break  off  in  the  middle  of  a  orititail  interview  between 
two  loveiT*,  to  toll  the  owner  of  a  ship,  which  hus  been  wrecked, 
wliether  he  can  forward  the  cargo  to  the  )H)rt  of  detitinatioii  by 
unother  vcsmcI  and  ho  earn  Iuh  freight.  A  paltry  fee  of  two 
guineas  iu  a  p(H>r  componmition  for  such  an  interruption.  I  have 
not  yet  deHnitely  laid  down  any  plan  for  my  continental  tour. 
Tancred  and  I  once  talked  of  going  to  Rome;  but  that  is  ({uite 
at  un  end.  Your  old  friend  Erskine  entered  Paris  witli  the 
Duke  of  Wellington.  .  .  .  My  chief  curiosity  is  to  see  the  red 
coats  and  the  turtuns  in  the  Champ  de  Mars. 

H6tol  de  la  Pnix,  Run  Richelieu,  Parin,  Soptoniber  .3, 1815. 

My  dear  Father: —  ...  I  have  again  awoke  this  morn- 
ing without  finding  my  throat  cut.  In  truth,  Paris  never  was 
more  tranquil,  and  I  am  as  safe;  as  if  I  was  sleeping  under 
your  own  roof.  I  left  T^ondon  as  I  intended  this  day  week. 
Embarked  in  the  packet  next  iu(»rning  between  ten  and  eleven. 
Lmuk'd  at  Dieppe  about  six  tlu;  I'oUowing  morning.  During 
the  passage  I  had  made  acipiaintance  with  a  Spaniard  who  had 
recently  come  from  Paris,  and  had  left  his  carriage  at  Dieppe. 
}Io  asked  me  to  take  a  seat  in  it,  \vhich  I  very  readily  agreed 
to.  Don  Antoni'.!  speaks  Fn-nch  extremely  well,  and  I  I'ound 
him  a  most  intelligent  and  agreeable  companion.  .  .  .  He  had 
been  in  Paris  during  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  then  in  the 
service  of  King  Joseph,  then  among  the  Liberals,  and  is  now 
pei-secuted  and  obliged  to  leave  his  country  by  Ferdinand.  He 
had  likewise  some  law.  Seeing  frona  my  j)assport  that  I  was 
ucoad  amflais,  he  stated  to  me  that  a  policy  of  insurance  had 
l)eeii  effected  some  years  ago  for  his  father,  a  merchant  at  Tortosa, 
aiul  that  though  the  ship  was  lost  the  underwriters  would  not 
pay.  So  I  gave  him  my  opinion  upon  it  and  told  him  what 
was  to  be  done.  He  had  no  high  opinion  of  English  law,  and 
was  particularly  shocked  by  the  permission  given  to  a  husband 
as  soon  as  he  is  tired  of  his  wife  to  sell  her  in  the  market-place 


I .  t 


'>ls 


■4:'ll 


J  III 
tr 


..:,  ;:.j:r;|li 


:ftB||i 


32« 


MFI-:  OF   lX)ltl>  CAMI'ltKLL. 


[ISl 


'). 


with  a  hultur  ubuitt  her  iuH>k.  It  wan  in  vuiii  for  mt>  to  tuiy  that 
thirt  wofi  no  part  of  the  luw,  and  only  u  inyHtiticution.  lie  replied 
that  it  wnft  constimtly  done,  and  the  inHtancen  mentioned  in  the 
journalH,  ulonj^  with  the  births,  marriages  and  judicial  divorcoH. 
However,  I  wiw  quite  acrabli  with  his  inceustuit  kindnisH  mid 
{H)litenetiH.  I  j(ot  to  Parin  for  a  trifle,  paying  only  half  tho 
expentto  of  the  post-horHCM,  which  altogether  wan  not  so  much  w 
a  shilling  a  nule,  the  rate  of  posting  in  Kngland  In'ing  exactly 
double.  We  «lid  not  get  on,  however,  (juite  so  rapidly.  ...  It 
was  very  near  midnight  l)eforc  we  rcache<l  St.  Denis.  They 
pressetl  uh  to  Htop,  but  it  was  n«'cessary  to  prcK'etHl.  We  were 
under  some  Hlight  apprehension  of  bi'ing  robbed,  but  we  got 
BJifely  on.  We  met  stiveral  parties  of  cavalry  scouring  the  road, 
but  they  took  no  notice  of  us.  T\w  grcat<'st  ex<'rtions  are  made 
to  render  safe  the  tran8[M)rt  of  provisions,  <tc.,  to  Paris,  and 
hitherto  they  have  8uc<'ee<led.  On  rcacliing  the  barrUre  I  was 
again  thrown  into  tmnsportn  by  finding  it  guarded  by  English 
troops.  I  have  never  been  asked  for  or  shown  my  passport  sintn; 
I  entered  France — very  dilVcicnt  from  1802! 

.  .  .  Thursday. — Dinetl  at  V6ry .-!,  went  to  the  ThMtre 
Fran9ais,  saw  *Iphig6nie,'  by  Racine,  in  which  Talma  and 
Mdlle.  George  acted,  and  a  sister  of  the  latter  made  her  (Ubut. 
Infinitely  gmtified.  I  hardly  know  which  to  prefer,  the  French 
or  the  English  stage.  I  have  no  difficulty,  however,  in  saying 
that  altogether  their-  pieces  are  much  bett».'r  represented.  In 
England  we  never  have  above  one  or  two  gocnl  actors  on  the 
scene,  and  the  details  are  very  much  neglccte<l.  Here  all  is  per- 
fetition. 

Friday  morning. — Went  to  Ruel,  about  six  miles  from  Paris, 
to  deliver  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Sir  John  EUey,  Adjutant- 
General  of  the  Army.  Saw  at  a  distance  a  review  of  the  Prus- 
sian troops  as  I  passed  along.  Breakfjusted  with  Elley  and  met 
with  much  civility  from  him.  He  was  in  every  engagement  in 
the  Peninsula,  and  distinguished  himself  very  much  at  Water- 
loo, where  he  received  three  wounds  and  had  three  horses  killed 
under  him.     He  showed  me  his  Talavcra,  Salamanca  and  Vit- 


IMlo.] 


CAI.I>4  ON  Mil   JOHN    KI.I.KY. 


327 


toriii  nicflulH  unci  oliiNpH,  unil  ]m  HiiHsiaii  AiLstriaii,  PrtiHriian  und 
PortUf^iicHc  onlorM  oC  l<tugiith()o<l.  ITn  nayH  noiia|>nrte  did  not 
tight  the  huttic  of  VVatcricH)  Hl<ilf'ully,  for  thnt  if  liu  hiul  nmdu  a 
flimultunoouH  attack  with  his  infantry,  cavuhy  and  artillery,  hm 
superiority  of  force  w«w  ho  j^rcat  that  the  Knglinh  inuBt  have 
l)ocn  overwhelmed  l)efore  the  PrnnHianH  cunie  up.  He  curried 
rao  to  MuluiaiHon,  which  \h  cIohc  by,  ond  where  Loitl  Comber- 
mere  was  qnartcre<1.  Kvcrythinf;  remains  lu*  in  the  time  of 
NaiH>lc(>n  and  JoH^'phinc :  I  huw  the  bed  in  which  nhe  died.  I 
wtw  particularly  interested  by  a  chair  in  which  Bonaparte  used 
to  sit  and  c«>^itate,  and  on  M'hich  he  had  made  innumerable  cutx 
with  a  penknife,  a  pnu^tice  he  was  /riven  to  when  engaged  in 
deep  tli<)ii<rht.  I  sat  in  this  chair  and  leant  upon  the  table  at 
which  he  used  to  dicitate  his  dispatches  to  his  secretaries.  While 
I  WHS  with  Elley  thirteen  com[)laints  came  in  from  the  mayor  of 
Ruel  against  a  corps  of  Brunswickers  for  dcprwlations  the  pre- 
ceding night.  He  ordere<l  tht^m  out  of  cantonments,  to  be 
€U(»m)p(Hl.  He  has  not  received  u  single  complaint  against  an 
English  corps  since  he  enteretl  France.  I  walked  with  him  in 
the  garden  of  the  house  where  he  lives,  and  gathered  a  large 
quantity  of  jKUichcs,  netstarines  and  grajWM,  which  were  growing 
in  the  utmost  profusion.  As  I  feasted  on  them  I  pleased  him 
by  saying  that  these  were  *  thefruitH  of  victory.'  In  the  evening 
I  went  to  the  ojwra,  where  by  way  of  ballet  they  gave  the  *  Prfnli- 
gal  Son.*  The  history  was  strictly  adhered  to,  except  that  the 
swine  were  not  introilucctl.  I  thought  of  your  sermon  on  the 
hmks.  Nothing  could  be  mere  beautiful  than  the  j)as  de  troia 
between  him  and  two  of  the  ladies  he  entertained  during  his 
riotous  living ! 


j^i 


!    f| 


Paris,  September  11,  1815. 

My  dear  Fatiieu  : —  ...  I  do  not  intend  to  remain  here 
above  a  week  longer.  I  have  been  very  active,  and  have  seen 
everything  in  Paris  and  the  environs.  This  morning  I  am  in  a 
particular  hurry,  as  I  am  going  to  have  consultation  with  Web- 
ster respecting  the  libels  upon  him  and  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 


I'M 


■Main 


328 


lAVK  OF   Umii  CAMl'ilt:LL 


Liaia. 


T  m«t  my  oM  |>u|>it  oim>  tun-.tilti);  in  tlio  TiOiivrc,  and  innuitli. 
nUAy  wctit  up  and  xpoko  to  him.  Wo  won;  vi>ry  n>rdial,  and  Im« 
talked  ti)  inc  in  the  nxMt  <i)nfi<!>  titial  mannur  of  liiM  niollur,  IiIh 
wifu,  and  all  )m  aff'uirrt.  I  cannot  mention  to  you  more  than 
that  I  am  certain  the  Htory  in  false  and  (^dumniouM.  Hut  the 
Duke  certainly  |>aid,  and  is  dinpoHeil  to  {Hiy,  her  the  m<wt  |)ur- 
ticular  attc>ntionH.  The  object  at  prcM'nt  in  to  dir^-over  the 
authorn  of  tlu;  lilxd  an<l  to  hrin^^  them  to  punishment.  I  wan 
intr(Mlu<>e<l  to  Lord  and  T^ady  MountnorriN,  and  «)no  eveninj;  I 
Hup|M>d  with  them.  They  all  live  together  in  a  nplendid  man- 
nion  in  the  Place  Vendftme. 

It  in  i[uite  impoHHihle  for  me  to  enter  into  any  dcHcription  of 
what  I  hav((  w<'n  or  felt.  The  nuwt  re«'ent  impreHsion  in  that  «)f 
VerwiilleH  anil  8t.  Cloud,  which  1  visitnl  yenterday.  It  wan  the 
ffte  of  St.  CliMul,  an<l  all  Paris  wan  in  the  park.  I  never  waw 
a  scene  of  such  guiety.  Hurrounde<|  hy  Hnglish  sentinels  and 
with  Knglish  trooi)S  exercising  in  sight  of  them,  several  thoti- 
Mands  were  dancing  cotillons  and  walt/es.  ...  I  shouM  have 
liked  nmch  to  wait  here  till  the  2")th,  when  the  Legislative  Hotly 
nici'ts,  Init  I  iH'gin  to  get  tirinl,  and  I  wish  to  Ik;  answering  cases 
in  the  Temple.  One  my  clerk  siMit  me  over  here,  and  I  dated 
my  opinion  from  the  Rue  th;  Kichclieu.  Xey's  trial  is  expeetetl 
to  <'ome  on  in  a  day  or  two,  and  I  have  hopes  of  getting  admis- 
sion. On  Satiirdav  I  heard  a  man  tried  at  the  Palais  de.Tustieu 
for  forgery.  The  (inxuitH  sjioke  extremi'ly  well,  an«l  the  trial  was 
very  fairly  conducted.  Hut  in  the  same  time  we  should  have 
tried  a  dozen  at  the  Old  Haili'y.    Ycnu's  ever  most  aflectionately, 

J.  C. 


P. 8.  After  retiu-ning  to  Paris  last  night  I  was  walking  in  the 
Chumps  Elys^'es,  and  was  unuised  with  aw  attempt  at  hnmi>r  by 
a  Scotch  soldier.  He  made  a  won»an  selling  fruit  understand 
that  he  wishetl  to  buy  a  |)each.  '  Qnutre  xouf,  taoimleur!'  '  We 
hiunu  mony  |)eaehes  in  Scotland,'  said  he;  'but  we  can  get  ane 
cheaper  thitu  paying  a  cat  and  a  soo  for't.' 


1815.J 


INTOI.KIiAHI.K   IIKAT   IN    PAIIIH, 


329 


Uf>U)\  (in  la  fail,  Ituo  i|«  Rieh>'liitu,  fkrlii.  !t<'f>t«inli>  i  I')  |h1A. 

My  dkau  HiwniiKU:— You  litth-  tlum^jht  thiit  your  l«'tU'r« 
written  in  tlir  «<imI  nC  |H|  t  iiiid  U'^iiiiiin^  of  IHl't  woiiM  Im) 
(lolivrntl  to  inc  in  tlic  (iipital  of  Friinn>.  1  n'rtuinly  ncviT  hiul 
more  pleasure  from  your  forri>K|Nin<l<'iii't*  tlian  aniidnt  the  Maiul- 
JHlitnentH  of  i'urlri.  I  huid  to  mysflf  that  yoiir  |)reF'en<'e  \V(M 
alone  wanting;  to  make  me  |H'rfertly  happy,  aiitl  I  now  S4>em  to 
hav(>  y<ai  by  my  Hide.  All  that  I  propose  to  do  at  present  is  to 
jrivc  you  u  rah'o  from  Paris,  which  I  will  enelofH'  to  my  clerk, 
and  direct  him  to  forward.  When  I  ^et  hack  to  the  Templu  I 
will  ^ive  you  HonH>  acctaint  of  my  a<lventureH.  I  am  in  pt'rfect 
}j;(mnI  health,  and  extpiisitely  enjoying  every  moment  as  it  passi-rt 
hy.  The  <Mdy  inctaivenience  I  sutler  from  is  the  heat,  which  i* 
dreadful.  I  never  knew  l>efore  what  heat  was.  At  ni^ht  I  etui- 
not  even  Ih'ar  my  shirt  as  I  lie  on  the  top  of  my  In'd,  and  ther« 
I  la-oil  like  St.  Lawrence  «)n  the  gridiron.  For  miles  round  you 
|H'rceive  no  symptoms  of  verdure  or  vej^etation — a  wide  waste 
of  wind.  Whence  conn-  the  milk  and  the  vejretahh's  with  which 
we  are  so  |)lentifidly  supplied,  I  do  not  understand. 

M<»st  of  the  lawyers  arrive  in  pairs.  I  am  here  hy  myself — 
a  plan  I  stnai^rly  re<'<anmend  to  all  travellers.  Ii(>t  two  men  Ik> 
very  well  infornuHl  and  very  well  tem|M'n'<l,  they  jjjet  tiretl  and 
dissatisfied  with  each  other.  My  actions  are  ijuite  un<'niistraincd, 
and  I  join  any  party  of  my  <'(nina!nmtiii'cn  aecortlinj;  to  my 
fantasy. 

If  you  ask  what  gives  mc  most  delight,  I  will  enumerate  sev- 
enil  things  that  have  pleased  me  nujch,  without  meaning  to  class 
them  according  to  any  supi)osed  preference:  1.  To  see  Paris  in 
the  hands  of  the  English  and  Prussians.  The  red  coats  and  the 
hlue  divide  it  between  them,  the  former  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river,  and  the  latter  on  the  south.  L(aiis  is  left  nothing  hut 
the  Tuileries.  The  national  guard  acts  to  jax'serve  tlu;  [)eace, 
but  the  barriers  and  all  the  military  posts  are  occupied  l»y  the 
allies.  There  are  several  Scotch  regiments  encamped  in  the 
Champs  Elys<5es,  and  I  find  it  peculiarly  interesting  to  hear  my 
native  tongue  spoken  under  such  circumstancos.     2.   1  have  a 

VOL.  I.  14* 


Uf 


9S» 


hirr,  OK  i.oitn  tAMi-iimr,. 


IIHIO. 


vii));ur  [tli'tiMiiir  ill  .<M>(iii){  tin<l  In'mi);  ho  iinir  i'Mi|M>rorM  uidI  kliigti. 
I  have  w'vrnil  tiiinM  U'cii  in  tin'  iiiidHt  of  the  KtiijH>ror  of  Huh- 
•In,  the  Kin|)<'rnrof  AiiMtria,  tlio  Kiiixiit'  i'ruHNiu,  iind  urchdukcM, 
diikcH,  ami  y^rcat  (i;«'ni>i'als  witlioiit  iiiiiiiInt.  TIiIh  \h  n  pIcuNiirc 
chi«'fly  uri.HiiiK  frntn  tin*  i)l(n«Min'  «'orn<'r  wlirro  I  wjw  lK)rt»  ntui 
nart"*!,  wliifli,  iipon  the  \vIimI«>,  I  Im-Hi-vi'  I  liavo  no  ri'iiMon  to 
relict.  I  hIiuII  ni'vor  forj^i-t  tlu'  womli'i*  with  wliii-h  I  at  Hi>t 
oontcinplatiMl  tlu'  iiiiignitlcriic*'  of  DiiikIco.  liiit  to  ri'tuni  to 
PariM.  '\,  The  vmt  aMM«'inltlag«'  of  Htmiif^orw  from  all  parts  of 
tin'  world.  If  r  dln»>  at  V<;'ry'H  I  am  Hiirroiindrd  Uy  men  of 
every  iiiition  and  trilH\  from  tho  Wall  of  China  to  (Jihraltnr. 
Tln'ir  ditJircnt  fd-atiirrM,  dr«'H,H,  lanmianf  and  maniH'i-M  niuk<>  ii 
vii'fnn;/!'  of  which  no  (hwriptioii  could  convey  an  id«'a.  \.  Tho 
gallery  of  tli<'  liouvre.  This,  i\n  yet,  renminM  alnioHt  entire.  The 
1'rnH.Hian?*  have  carried  away  a  i'vw  pictiircH,  hut  nothing  of  iiiiieh 
value.  Such  a  collection  never  exiMte<l  s-iiico  tlu'  world  Im'j^iui, 
niul  ju'ohaldy  never  will  exist  apiin.  There  Ik  no  doiiht  that  all 
the  MtatucM  and  paintinj^.-  arc  to  l»c  fcstored  to  their  former  own- 
crH,  and  we  <laily  exjMH't  to  si'c  the  dii^persion  iH'nin.  5.  The 
drama.  You  judj^e  rij^htly  that  CoriU'ille'H  tragedieH  are  very 
fine  in  tlio  moutliH  of  the  j,'rciit  Freiwh  p<'rformerM.  It  is  with 
their  conuMly,  however,  that  I  nni  chietly  deliirhtj"!!.  Ther((  is 
here  a  comic  actresH,  Miidlle.  Marx,  who  jjreatly  cxcei'dH  anything 
I  ever  iM'foro  wiw  u|)on  the  stage.  She  is  beautiful,  elegant, 
sprightly,  arch,  everything  in  the  highest  poHwihle  perfection. 
But  the  performers  are  all  excellent.  Kach  part  is  an  well  sup- 
j)orte«l  as  it  wn  or  ought  to  Ih'  for  the  general  effect  of  the  [)iece. 
But  I  must  hasten  to  <'onclude  my  (jatalogue  by  mentioning, 
ln.stly,  an  undefined  sense  of  <h>ng(>r,  mixed  with  a  conviction  of 
security.  The  French  U>ok  very  ferocious,  and  we  arc  told  of 
meetings  nightly  in  the  Faubourg  8t.  Marcel  for  planning  a 
general  massacre  of  tho  Knglish.  Yet  we  know  they  can  attempt 
nothing,  as  there  are  150,000  allied  troops  within  four  hours* 
march  of  Paris.  One  seems  to  be  in  the  midst  of  transactions 
to  be  mentioned  in  historv.  This  is  a  new  sensation,  and  tli(>iT- 
fore  delightful.     I  cannot,  however,  elucidate  my  meaning  upon 


1HI.-..J 


I'AMOUM  OAMINU    llOt'MK   IN    I'ARIM. 


aai 


thiN  Ih'iuI,  uihI  •  uwtt,  ihin'fi»r«>, nwrvr  If  an  tli«'  -uhjivt  «f  • 
f^itiiro  diwoUDM'.'      /,!•  Ixtii  l)!rn  t<oH»  hfniMi', 


run*,  H«|iiiiiiit>'<r  '»),  IHIA. 

Nfv  i»i;\ii  K.xiiiKU: —  .  .  .  PrrhupH  ymi  will  \\u\  Im'  Ii'km 
^ur|ii'iN4>(l  ro  lit'iir  tliiif  I  inn  lN>(<«»itic  i\  iiDtorlnux  Kiiiii«>Mt«>r,  M.  It* 
MiiripiiM  il<>  liivry,  tli<>  cliiet'  of  »im>  of  tlio  tiimt  lux'ii'iit  fainilIrM 
ill  KraiM't',  \n  now  at  \\\v  \\vw\  of  tlit>  iiioMt  fainoiiM  piiiiin^  houM* 
in  I'ari?*.  To  attract  4'ohi|Hiny  \w  j^ivcw  tin*  ino**t  <'x<|iiir«it«'  ••ntor- 
tiiiiiinrntM.  Yon  arc  IntrtMlnrHl  to  liini  nn<l  Inivr  yonr  ninl. 
S<M>ii  lifter,  von  havc»  an  invitation  to  ilinnrr,  wln-ni  von  inrot 
ni<>n  of  the  tiiMt  rcpntation,  and  ihiHliinj^  UOIty  of  tin*  womt. 
Yon  ar(>  i>x|M><>t(><l  to  play  and  Iom;  at  Icasf  cnoii^h  to  pay  for  yonr 
(liiini'r.  I  luul  an  invitation  a  i'vw  iliiysa^^o,  which  I  very  readily 
ai'r(>ptc4l.  Thu  cfjif^i  (/VriV  at  tuhlc  wuH  brilliant — (piitc  a  hia/c 
of  MtarM — anil  the  ladies,  you  may  Huppo^e,  extremely  lH>antifnl. 
We  H4N)n  adjunrniHl  to  the  ^iiniinti^-nMtinM.  I  had  reH«)lveil  to  lone 
two  na|M»leonH  and  no  more,  and  I  had  therefore  fiirninhed  my- 
w'lf  with  eijfht  tlvc-frane  ple<'C8 — two  of  which  I  staked  at  a  tinu'. 
1  tirst  triiil  * nmgv  d  noir* — hut  found  my  money  inoreaHinjf.  I 
then  made  nn  attempt  at  'par  d  impar,'  Avith  the  name  hucch'sh. 
At  Itwt  I  thouf|;ht  that  'hazard'  would  do  my  huHineHW — hut  it 
was  all  in  vain,  I  never  could  ^et  ri<l  of  my  money  and,  after 
playin)^  for  i«overal  hourn  until  the  table  broke  up,  I  found  my- 
Hclf  a  winner  of  thnnj  napoleons.  Otheit*,  I  HUp|M)He,  won  or  lot<t 
as  many  hundredH,  for  they  Htuked  tlutir  five  or  ten  napoleons 
every  throw.  NotwitliMtandin^  this  bait  thrown  out  for  me  by 
Monsieur  le  Diable,  T  have  not  Ufn  at  the  ManjuiM'H  sinw.  It 
is  a  most  wonderful  establishment;  the  h<Mcl  one  of  the  tirst  in 
Paris,  with  iK'antifnl  ^uihIciis.  I  think  there  camiol  Ik>  less  than 
thirty  or  forty  servants  iilwnys  in  attendance,  and  ready,  like  the 
j,a'nii  of  the  lamp,  to  briiijjj  yon  whatever  luxuries  you  eau  de- 
mand. Heaven  knows  how  after  uU  this  I  shall  sit  down  to 
draw  declarations ! 

...  I  continue  to  thiidt  that  things  will  go  on  quietly.  The 
manifestations  at  the  theatres  are  most  loyal.     'Henri  IV.'  is 


;<!' 


-I  I  urn 


.IP 


M' 


m 


M 

"•'  ■  1 

:.'j'| 


332 


lilFK  OF   LOUD  CAMl'IJKl.I.. 


[IHI 


'J. 


frequeutly  culled  for  and  encored.  I^aat  night  I  wits  ut  tiif 
Vaiulevillo,  where  a  ])iece  wa«  reprcscntetl  to  celebrate  the  return 
of  the  King  to  Paris.  A  Highland  officer  in  introduced,  who  in 
broken  French  gives  an  account  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  and 
the  manner  in  which  Bonaparte  fled,  culling  'sauve  qui  peuV 
He  was  most  rapturously  applauded.  On  inquiry  I  find  there 
was  nothing  corresponding  to  this  during  the  hundred  days  of 
Bonapai'te's  government.  Everyone  speaks  well  of  the  English. 
They  abhor  the  Prussians  and  despise  the  Austrians.  Please  to 
write  me  a  few  lines  v.hich  I  may  find  on  my  return  to  the 
Temple.     Go<l  bless  you  all. 


Temple,  October  2, 1815. 

My  dear  George  : —  ...  I  have  a  letter  from  our  father 
to-day  which  amuses  me  a  good  deal,  being  filled  with  dehorta- 
tions  from  vice,  and  exhortations  to  industry.  He  seems  to  think 
that  while  I  was  at  Paris  *  I  went  oft'  at  the  nail,'  and  that  I 
never  should  return  to  the  sober  habits  of  the  law.  Alas !  he 
forgets  that  I  be(!ome  a  bald-headed  old  man  and  that,  according 
to  the  coui"se  of  iiature,  1  ought  to  have  had  a  son  to  whom  I 
miglit  have  addressed  such  admonitions  with  propriety.  I  have 
now  concluded  my  thirty-sixth  year !  Juli/  is  gone !  I  more 
and  more  hope  that  we  shall  spend  a  pleasant  autumn  together. 
If  you  were  to  ask  me  what  you  should  do  chiefly  to  adapt  your- 
self to  London  society,  I  should  say,  read,  ponder  and  get  by 
heart  Shakespeare's  plays.  Your  acquaintance  with  Scott  and 
Byron  is  good;  but  they  may  drop  out  of  fashion.  Shake- 
speare remains  the  same  for  ever  in  public  estimation,  and  in  the 
coui'se  of  conversation  there  are  perpetual  allusions  to  him.  It 
is  likewise  of  much  importance  to  be  quite  familiar  with  the 
popular  works  of  Smollett,  Fielding  and  Sterne.  Those,  with 
the  fashionable  publications  of  the  day,  will  enable  you  to  dine 
out  with  distinction.     In  short,  my  dear  George, 

.       Be  to  my  faults  a  little  blind, 
Be  to  my  virtues  very  kind, 


1815.] 


DREARmEBS  OP   LONDON. 


333 


imd  wo  slmll  go  on  very  happily  togctlier.  Your  jC700  a  year 
i.H  likely  to  be  more  valunhlc  than  could  have  been  hoped  for  a 
little  while  ago.  The  price  of  <'orn  continues  to  fall,  and  other 
things  begin  to  keep  pace  with  it.  Posting  is  now  very  general 
at  Is.  a  mile,  l  surely  could  not  l)e  so  absurd  jus  to  imagine 
that  a  reformation  »f  our  currency  could  improve  your  exchange. 
If  r  said  so,  you  might  have  su[>posed  it  to  be  a  slip  of  the  pen. 
If  things  remain  (piiet,  I  suppose  we  shall  by  and  by  get  back 
to  the  old  state  of  things,  and  have  guineas  in  circulation  at  21 «. 
There  appears  to  be  no  chance  or  possibility  of  any  change  in 
my  mode  of  life  in  the  season  about  to  open.  Were  I  married, 
and  even  happily,  I  should  probably  feci  more  erinui  and  more 
vexation  than  I  do  at  present.  But  I  confess  I  have  a  sense  of 
great  desolation  when  1  look  round  and  jjcrceive  how  isolated  I 
am.  The  rapid  progress  of  tlie  time  within  which  the  founda- 
tiou  for  domestic  ties  must  be  laid  likewise  fills  me  with  dismay. 
But  I  dismiss  such  reflections ;  and  when  the  morrow  of  All 
Souls  arrives  I  shall  have  no  time  for  them  till  the  next  long 
vacation. 


!i 


Temple,  October  7, 1815 

My  dear  Father: — I  have  at  last  the  pleasure  to  forward 
George's  letter  of  February  9.  London  is  dreadfully  desolate, 
and  I  ctui  hardly  drag  on  existence.  I  wish  I  could  go  and 
amuse  myself  at  the  Marquis's.  I  had  another  invitation  to 
<liiie  with  him  the  day  I  left  Paris.  I  should  have  stayed  a  week 
l(»nger,  had  I  not  j)ereeived  that  you  were  so  much  alarmed  for 
my  momls.  My  only  amusement  now  is  dining  en  pension  with 
51  French  abM.  I  pay  less  than  I  should  at  a  coffee-house.  I 
hope  to  have  some  more  good  advice  from  you  very  soon.  I 
have  got  by  heart  your  last  discourse  on  the  dangers  of  pleasure 
and  the  benefits  of  industry. 

I  remain. 

Dear  Papa, 

You  dutiful  Son, 

John  Campbell. 


:3«ft  i 


334 


lilFE  OF  LORD  CAMI'BKU,. 


[1815. 


Templo,  DpcombiT  1,  1M15, 

My  deau  George: —  .  .  .  McCulloc-h  lately  advised  me 
with  ti  view  to  your  interest,  to  become  un  wcjusioiml  speaker  at 
the  India  House.  He  says  that  in  this  way  I  may  be  able  to 
serve  you  more  effectually  than  by  the  best  intermediary  appli- 
cations. Accordingly  I  liave  l)ought  jCIOOO  India  Stock,  by 
which  I  am  qualified  both  to  vote  and  speak.  I  know  not  when 
I  shall  l)ogin  my  oratorical  career.  Since  the  granting  of  the 
new  charter  there  lias  been  hardly  any  debating.  Were  anything 
interesting  to  occur,  it  may  very  likely  happen  that  I  may  not 
be  able  to  attend.  But  tl«e  first  favorable  opportunity  I  shall 
try  my  luck. 

I  believe  you  to  he  quite  sincere  in  what  you  say  about  buying 
a  seat  in  Parliament  for  me ;  but  at  present  the  experiment  is 
not  advisable.  There  is  no  balance  of  parties,  and  speaking  and 
voting  both  go  for  very  little.  The  only  way  in  M'hicfh  a  man 
could  advance  himself  in  the  House  of  Commons  would  be  by 
becoming  a  devoted  tool  of  Carlton  House.  Being  a  mere  min- 
isterialist is  nothing ;  but  a  friend  of  the  Prince  is  sure  to  be  pro- 
moted. This  line  of  politics,  however,  is  not  only  exceedingly 
degrading,  but  is  pretty  well  preoccupied.  As  to  a  man  getting 
on  by  speaking  on  the  popular  side,  it  is  now  quite  out  of  the 
question.  From  a  great  combination  of  causes,  the  power  of  the 
Crown  is  at  present  transcendent,  and  is  long  likely  to  continue  so. 
But  though  I  have  little  wish  to  be  in  Parliament  just  at  pres- 
ent, I  by  no  means  renounce  the  thought.  On  the  contraiy,  if 
I  do  not  marry  (which  becomes  most  highly  improbable),  I  cal- 
culate with  certainty  on  some  day  or  another  being  a  member  of 
the  Honorable  House.  The  time  would  be  when  I  may  aspire 
to  a  silk  gown — and  by  then  I  shall  be  able  easily  to  afford  the 
expense,  without  the  generous  sacrifice  which  you  propose.  .  .  . 

The  branch  of  my  bi'.siness  which  most  increases  is  case  answer- 
ing. 1  have  a  great  character  in  the  City  as  a  mercantile  lawyer. 
Accordingly  I  am  consulted  by  a  number  of  the  first  City  attor- 
neys. This  necessarily  leads  to  business  in  court.  If  a  suit 
follows  the  opinion,  the  man  on  whose  advice  it  was  commenced 


1815.] 


HABITS  AT  THE   VEltULAM   CLUB. 


oo  - 


is  naturally  employed.  You  need  not  be  ufruid  of  my  becoming 
u  mere  chamber  counsel.  This  is  a  character  now  cxplotled,  and 
the  business  of  u  stuff-gown  in  chambers  and  in  court  always 
bears  a  pretty  similar  proportion. 

Wc  flourish  mightily  at  the  Verulam.  Lord  Erskine  is  now 
a  candidate.  Seriously,  this  club  adds  very  much  to  the  agri- 
tiicntu  of  my  existence.  1  hope  to  see  you  a  member.  I  shall 
put  you  down  by  and  by  as  a  candidate,  that  you  may  be  admitted 
on  your  return.  Say  if  you  shall  have  any  objection.  You  will 
find  it  an  excellent  introduction  to  society  in  London.  I  suppose 
you  are  too  misanthropical  now  to  play  at  cards.  We  have  one 
room  devoted  to  that  purpose,  and  another  to  chess.  I  never  play 
myself,  but  I  honor  those  who  do.  We  have  three  modes  of 
dining.  There  is  a  dinner  at  five  o'clock  at  6s.  a  head  exclusive 
of  wine,  and  anotlier  at  six  o'clock  at  10«.,  and  individuals  may 
dine  singly  at  different  prices  at  any  hour.  The  five  o'clock  din- 
ner is  soon  over,  but  the  six  o'clock  party  do  not  break  up  till 
near  ten  or  eleven.  I  can  only  assist  at  this  very  rarely.  But 
the  chief  use  of  the  place  I  find  is  for  a  lounge  after  business. 

I  still  continue  a  theatrical  amateur,  and  to-morrow  night  I  am 
going  to  see  Miss  O'Neil  in  '  Monimia.'  After  witnessing  the 
performance  of  Mdme.  George  and  Mdme.  Duchesnoy  I  admire 
her  more  than  ever.  She  is  almost  equal  in  tragedy  to  Mdlle. 
Mars  in  comedy.  I  suppose  I  raved  about  this  last  actress  in 
my  Paris  letters.  I  hope  you  and  I  may  see  her  together  at  the 
Th6t\tre  Fran9ais.  You  shall  say  you  never  knew  what  comic 
acting  was  before.  You  seem  to  be  reading  a  great  deal  of  French 
as  well  as  Latin.  You  quote  Corneille  and  Tacitus  in  the  same 
letter.  I  wish  you  would  give  me  some  account  of  the  course  of 
your  studies.  I  did  not  imagine  there  was  a  copy  of  the  Life  of 
Agricola  in  all  India.  I  think  you  have  never  made  any  attempt 
upon  the  native  languages,  nor  do  I  know  that  it  would  have 
been  at  all  worth  your  while.  I  agree  with  our  father  that  you 
should  have  undertaken  some  literary  enterprise. 

'  Waverly '  and  '  Guy  Mannering '  of  course  you  have  read 
and  greatly  admired.    All  those  who  have  good  means  of  infor- 


i ' 


336 


I.IFK   (»!••    I,(>ir.>   <  AMl'HELL. 


[181i 


inntion  Ijcliovc  they  arc  writtoii  by  Walter  S(!ott,  although  he 
stronouHly  (lisolainiw  tlu'in.  A  thinl  by  the  same  author  is  advor- 
tiseil.  Waltor'8  *  Waterloo '  is  (loiinidercd  a  failure.  The  saying 
goes  that  *  he  has  fallen  in  battle,'  and  the  following  epigram  has 
been  written  up«.n  him  by  Ei'skine: 

On  Waterloo's  ensanguined  plain 
Lie  thousands  of  the  mighty  slain ; 
But  none  by  sabre,  or  by  siiot, 
Fell  half  so  flat  as  Walter  Scott  1 


'IVmple,  Sunday  evening,  December  10, 1815. 

My  DEAK  Father  : —  .  .  .  No  news  I  I  continue 'drawing 
declarations  nnd  oi>ening  pleadings.'  One  evening  last  week,  to 
be  sure,  T  was  before  his  Honor  the  Master  of  the  llolls,*  upon 
a  case  of  great  importance  from  our  circuit  I'cspecting  a  will. 
We  were  four  on  each  side,  Sir  Samuel  Komilly  being  of  the  num- 
ber. His  Honor  listened  to  me  with  groat  attention,  and  treated 
me  with  grtjat  civility.  The  contrast  between  his  manner  of  doing 
busiucss  and  that  of  our  four  ruffians  in  the  King's  Bench  is  very 
striking.  He  never  interrupts  any  man,  and  when  the  counsel 
have  all -finished  he  gives  judgment  so  as  to  satisfy  even  those 
against  whom  he  decides.  I  am  sure  I  may  assert  with  perfect 
truth  that  in  our  court  1  have  not,  since  I  was  called  to  the  bar, 
spoken  fom*  consecutive  sentences  M'ithout  being  stopped  by  some 
of  the  judges  with  a  qu^  stion,  or  an  objection,  or  a  *  pooh  pooh ! ' 
And  they  behave  in  the  same  manner  to  all  the  other  men  at  the 
bar.  Instead  of  saving,  they  waste  time  in  this  manner,  and  they 
render  themselves  universjdly  odious. 

We  have  commenced  an  action  in  the  name  of  Webster  against 
the  *St.  James's  Chronicle,'  for  saying  there  had  been  an  intrigue 
between  Lady  Frances  and  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  The  cause 
will  not  come  on  for  trial  till  the  middle  of  February. 

I  had  to-day  a  severe  rebuke  for  skating  on  the  Serpentine. 
About  a  minute  and  a  half  after  I  had  crossed  it  with  some  ap- 


*Sir  William  Grant. 


1816.] 


HIS   BROTHER   AT  CALCUTTA. 


887 


prehension,  a  piece  of  ice  fell  in,  and  above  a  dozen  jHirsons  were 
immersed  in  the  water.  A  rope  was  instantly  thrown  to  them 
(indeed,  was  previously  lying  across  the  place),  or  they  miu»t  all 
have  been  drowned.  They  were  got  out  alive,  except  one  man, 
and  hopes  were  entertained  of  his  restoration.  It  would  have 
been  a  very  pretty  termination  to  my  career,  had  I  been  drowned 
slcating  on  a  Simday!  But  y.d  know  this  amusement  is  per- 
mitted on  Sundays  in  London  with  the  most  'decent'  people, 
and  you  must  allow  that  no  one  keeps  the  Sabbath  more  strictly 
than  I  do,  when  in  Scotland. 

Temple,  December  17, 1816. 

My  dear  George: — Although  I  am  at  present  much  occu- 
pied I  must  give  utterance  to  my  joy  at  your  ^appointment  to 
Calcutta.  This  I  consider  the  happiest  event  that  has  occurred 
to  the  family  in  my  time.  Although  wc  have  great  reuson  to 
bless  God  for  continued  prosperity,  we  have  not  met  with  many 
striking  instances  of  good  fortune.  I,  of  course,  enjoy  this  all 
the  more  as  I  had  given  up  all  hopes  of  it,  and  had  severely  felt 
tho  disappointment.  My  reluctance  to  your  continuing  in  India 
is  now  considerably  diminished.  We  are  not  much  farther  from 
each  other  in  point  of  intercourse  than  if  you  had  been  perma- 
nently settle<l  as  a  physician  at  Perth  or  Edinburgh.  My  great 
joy  is  that  you  will  now  enjoy  life.  The  society  of  Calcutta,  1 
conceive,  is  better  than  that  of  any  provincial  town  of  Great 
Britain,  and  you  have  it  entirely  at  your  command.  Plenty  of 
leisure,  independent  station,  health,  the  exhilaration  arising  from 
the  accomplishment  of  your  plans,  the  consciousness  of  having 
made  us  all  so  happy,  the  prospect  of  joining  us  when  you  find 
it  convenient !  The  news  to  me  is  without  alloy — for  everything 
goes  on  prosperously  with  the  family.  Our  father  (blessed  be 
God)  is  in  vigorous  health,  and,  from  his  altered  mode  of  life,  is 
likely  long  to  continue  so.  My  mind  is  relieved  from  a  weight, 
knowing  that  you  had  heard  of  his  illness.  I  was  really  afraid 
of  the  effect  it  might  have  upon  you,  and  T  had  misgivings  as  to 
the  propriety  of  my  communications.  .  .  . 

VOL.  I.  1§ 


■■I 


i       t;> 


;j  ^ '  t  m 


f^    ■  i  VI  u 


U.       iM'^ti 


338  LIFE  OP   LOKD  CAMPBELL.  [1810. 

If  I  rcmnin  obscure  I  Imvc  no  rouHoii  to  coinpkiii  of  my 
profitn.  Ill  tho  last  wock  I  made  alxive  100  guiiioas!  Hut  for 
this  I  have  Morkc*!  in  u  way  of  wliich,  I  fancy,  you  have  not 
much  notion  in  the  East.  At  Guildhall  by  nine  o'clock — rcmai!! 
in  court  till  near  four — come  honic — cat  a  mutton  chop  and  a 
potato  Kilt  to  my  chainl)ors — no  wine  nor  Hinall  l)ccr — Ixjgin  im- 
mediately to  read  my  briefs — jjo  out  to  consultations — alt  up  till 
one  to  answer  caiscs  or  write  out  my  Ilepin'ts.  But  I  generally 
contrive  to  spend  half  an  hour  at  the  Vcrulam.  My  health 
never  Ixitter.  I  used  to  suffer  considerably  from  dyspepsia,  and 
had  an  inclination  to  jaundice — but  all  symptoms  of  this  are 
now  gone.  I  breakfast  every  morning  on  ca/(5  au  luit,  which  I 
think  agrees  better  with  nic  than  tea,  and  which  I  beg  leave  to 
recommend  to  you. 

Templo,  February  5, 1816. 

My  pear  Father  : —  ...  At  last  I  have  the  pleasure  to 
inform  you  that  Ablwtt  is  virtually  appointed.*  The  rumors 
have  l)een  various.  Sometimes  it  was  Abbott,  sometimes  Hol- 
royd,  sometimes  Best,  sometimes  Burrough,  sometimes  licns, 
sometimes  Piggott.  For  throe  days  it  was  most  confidently 
reportc<l  that  Best  was  fixed  upon,  and  his  own  family  believed 
go.  On  Saturday,  however,  Abbott  r(!turn<Kl  his  briefs  and  shut 
up  his  ,','haml)ei*s.  In  ])oint  of  fact,  his  fiat  came  to  the  Socre- 
taiy  of  State's  office  on  Wcdnesd.'iy.  1  did  not  certainly  know 
the  event  at  jjost  time  on  Saturday,  or  \  should  have  informed 
you  of  it.  I  have  never  before  met  with  anything  so  fortunate. 
How  it  will  turn  out  no  one  can  tell ;  but  1  have  no\,  before  iiio 
as  favorable  an  opening  u[)on  the  circuit  as  the  heart  of  man 
could  desire.  The  g(!neral  opinion  is  that  I  .^hall  fill  it  up.  I 
meet  with  congratidations  wherever  I  go.  I  feel  my  importarico 
in  Westminster  ITall  increased  to  a  dogree  th.'it  you  cannot  ciisily 
imagine.  The  common  saying  is,  'What  a  lucky  fellow  that 
Campbell  is ! '    My  own  expectatitms  at  first  are  moderate.    You 


*Ab  ,Tu(]y;e  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bcncli ;    afterwards  Chief  Justice  of 
Sngland,  and  Lord  Tcnterden. — Ed. 


Chief  Justice  of 


18  lU.] 


AM   Ui'£M.NU   ON    Tlli::  OXKoKD  OIBOUIT. 


nn9 


all!  to  uuderstiuid  that,  besides  thirty  or  forty  nun  niHiu  the 
liniiit  who  all  expect  to  have  the  principal  share  of  Abl)ott'8 
ImsincHS,  there  are  two,  Tuunton  and  Pcake,  who  ought  in  the 
common  course  of  thingH  to  come  in  hefoi-e  mv,  as  they  are  of 
iiiiu'h  greater  Htanding,  and  are  more  known  upon  the  circuit. 
1  urn  wur(!,  however,  to  have  enough  both  to  try  and  improve 
iiie,  and  it  i.s  not  the  fault  «)f  fortun(>  it'  I  do  not  get  forward. 
.Jervid  and  Dauncey  are  the  only  two  silk  gowns  (m  the  circuit. 
If  you  could  get  one  made  a  Daron  of  the  Exchequer  and  the 
other  sent  out  as  a  judge  to  India,  I  might  then  have  a  chance 
for  the  lead.  In  town,  likewise,  the  ground  is  about  to  be  very 
much  cleared.  It  is  expecteil  that  Mariyat,  Scarlett  and  five  or 
»ix  others  will  have  silk  gowns  almost  innnediately. 

I  forgot  to  mention  that  another  judge,  Dampler,  died  ou 
Saturday  night.  He  is  to  be  succi-cded  by  Holroyd,  a  special 
pleader  from  the  Northern  circuit.* 

Temple,  February  C,  1816. 

My  dear  George: —  .  .  .  Abbott  is  at  length  made  a 
judge,  and  the  Oxford  is  as  open  to  me  as  heart  of  man 
could  desire.  .  .  .  On  the  strength  of  it  I  have  sportetl  the  seal 
which  I  have  l)een  so  long  building;,  and  the  exact  connterpai't 
of  whioh  I  have  built  for  you.  These  an;  tl.e  true  heraldio 
Iwarings  of  (mr  house ;  Gyronny  of  eight,  or  and  sable,  within 
a  bordure  engrailed,  or  and  azure,  countercdianged.  The  Iwur's 
head  proper  you  have  been  lony:  iicfinainted  with.  The  amis 
you  will  see  in  any  book  of  h(>ral<lrv.  I  have  selected  a  new 
inotto,  and  I  hope  you  as  head  of  th(!  house  will  approve  of 
it.  liord  Breadaibane's  motto  is  *  I'^ollow  me,*  and  all  the  junior 
brandies  have  something  wliieli  may  bo  uiidcrstocxl  by  way  of 
answer.  The  Campbells  of  llaltullo  sny  'Audaefer  ct  apert!'.' 
The  words  are  from  Cicero,  and  I  beli'evc  have  not  been  so 
applied  before,  although  some  noble  family  has  *  Andaderet  s'm- 


*  George  &.  Holroyd :  made  a  Judjj 
died,  1831.— Ed. 


of  the  King's  Bench,  February,  1816 j 


\, 


T! 


'  "(' 


340  LIFE  or  IX)RD  OAMPBELIi.  [1816. 

otrV  I  am  afraid  you  will  think  my  head  turned  ultttgothcr 
I  oonfesB  I  am  greatly  dclight(>d.  I  huvi'  luvur  l)efuro  met  witli 
such  a  piece  of  ])erH()nul  good  fortune.  I  could  not  Im>  inoic 
favorably  circumstanced  upon  tlio  circuit.  Were  the  oiMinin); 
greater,  it  would  be  dangcrouH  by  calling  up  uoni{M}titui>.  .  .  . 
In  the  spring  I  Htill  moan  ti)  start  my  two  horscH  and  ^loom 
(with  the  boar'H  hejul  projicr  on  his  buttons).  By  the  bye,  1  do 
not  think  I  have  written  to  you  since  I  was  at  the  HCHHions, 
where  I  dumped  ull  night  at  a  ball,  to  the  admiration  of  thf 
county  of  Gloucester.  I  rather  think  I  shall  become  u  moHt 
egregious  coxcomb ;  indeed,  with  my  Paris  coat  and  new  seal  I 
have  already  become  so.  Pniy  send  me  some  good  advice.  1 
was  much  benefited  by  your  n^oral  lecture,  and  I  would  try  t»i 
return  you  the  compliment,  if  I  did  not  know  it  was  unneces- 
sary by  your  declared  incompetency  for  *  the  pleasures  of  youth.' 
Forgive  all  this  trifling.  You  shall  hear  from  me  fully  in  about 
ten  days.     God  bless  you. 

Temple,  February  16, 1816. 

My  dear  George: —  .  .  .  T  have  not  had  a  tussle  with 
Lord  Ellenborough  these  three  months.  My  manner  is  less 
offensive  to  him,  and  he  is  disposed  to  treat  mc  with  more  con- 
sideration. The  business  I  now  have  necessarily  gives  me  some 
importance  with  the  court.  I  have  not  been  recently  engaged 
in  any  cause  of  public  interest  except  that  tried  on  Friday,  of 
which  you  will  find  an  account  in  the  newspapers,  Webster  and 
Lady  Frances  against  the  '  St.  James's  Chronicle.*  Two  thousand 
pounds  damages  I  I  was  exceedingly  anxious  indeed.  The 
whole  responsibility  rested  on  my  shoulders.  I  hud  little  to  do 
in  public.  I  will  just  give  you  a  specimen  of  the  way  in  wliicli 
juniors  at  the  bar  are  kept  down.  It  was  my  business  to  open 
the  pleadings,  as  we  call  it,  and  I  ouj^lit  naturally  to  have  stated 
all  the  libels  to  the  jury.  When  I  was  getting  tip  to  do  so, 
Best  said :  *  Don't  yon  say  more  than  that  it  is  an  action  for  a 
libel.*  Well,  then  Vaughan  ought  to  have  examined  the  first 
witness  as  to  the  publication,  which  would  have  left  the  Duke 


1816.] 


LADY    FKANCLM    WKIIHTER. 


841 


of  Richmond  to  nu>,  in  (>xuiniiiing  whom  rcxiiecting  thi^  Duke  of 
Wellington  and  I^dy  Fninw's  hoiuc  Mat  wiw  to  be  expected. 
Ah  B<!Ht  was  conchHlinj?  liin  Hpti'cli,  Yiiughan  wid :  '  Campbell, 
do  you  tai<c  the  iirHt  witnexM  to  prove  the  publication,  and  I  will 
go  on  with  the  Duke  of  Richmond.'  In  both  iuHtanccH  I  wan 
coiup(>ll(>d  to  comply.  There  {h  an  invariable  and  rtyHtematic 
ninrtpiracv  ainoiij^  the  le!.'(|ei*H  to  deprem  a  junior,  and  to  cut  him 
otV  from  all  opportunity  of  gaining  distinction. 

Wcbt<U'r  and  bin  wile  have  Ix'cn  a  week  in  London,  an«l  1 
have  8een  a  gotxl  (h>al  of  them.  She  is  the  most  fa^'inating 
crejiture  that  ever  lived,  and  I  believe  in  my  eonscienct!  moiit 
IHjrfeetly  virtuous.  I  really  am  quite  in  love  witl>  her.  She 
may  well  be  the  concjueror  of  the  coiupieror  of  the  W(»rld. 
Although  she  litui  certainly  met  with  more  flattering  attention 
during  the  last  twelve  months  than  any  woman  in  Europe,  her 
manners  remain  a  perfe(!t  model  of  simplicity  as  well  as  of 
I'legance.  It  is  whimsical  enough  that  she  is  going  to  reside  in 
tlie  parish  of  Cupar.  There  is  a  house  called  Cairnie  Lodg«i,  at 
present  iidiabited  by  a  brother-in-law  of  Webster's.  There  they 
arc  going  on  a  visit,  and  they  leave  I^ondon  for  that  destination 
this  morning.  James,  at  his  own  request,  carries  down  a  letter 
of  inti'oduetion  to  our  father.  I  wish  to  Heaven  she  would 
n-muin  in  Fife  till  the  autumn.  Having  been  the  idol  of  Brussels 
and  Paris  during  the  last  twelve  months,  she  is  personally 
acquainted  with  almost  all  the  distinguished  characters  in  Europe. 
Then  as  to  the  battle  of  Waterloo  she  may  be  said  to  liave  been 
present  at  it.  1  rather  think  she  was  not  forgotten  in  the  Duke's 
visit  to  lirusscls  the  next  day.  And  at  any  rate  she  had  intelli- 
gence from  the  field  every  hour.  What  she  has  seen  she  tells 
with  as  much  nau*ct6  as  a  country  girl.  I  was  five  hours  in 
(conversation  with  her  on  Friday  evening,  and  it  seemed  but  a 
moment.  Januvs  insistetl  on  giving  mc  as  an  acknowledgment 
ten  small  bronze  busts  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  poets  which  he 
hud  brought  witli  him  from  I'aris,  and  winch  now  ornament  my 
muutel-piece.  .  .  . 

I  liave  no  news  for  you  of  any  kind.     ^ly  friend  Brougham 


I 


€ 


'■:  m 


PI 


I  ;   . 


!': 


1.: 

■'j 

■ '  'it'' 

■   ■  :       .  ir 

m  P 

I  I.  ';'■ 

■'  ■' !'  ' 

:iV2 


i.ivr.  or  Loiih  (  \Mi'iii:i,i,. 


[IK16. 


you  will  H«H>  M  timkiiiKU  pt'iMliKioiiM  miiIimIi  in  tli«  lldiiHof  Com- 
niotiN,  but  Ih>  Im  (loiii^  nothing  at  the  Inu*.  lie  tuny  iilniiMt  l)e 
coiiMiilerfHl  to  Imvr  loft  tin*  law,  or  the  law  to  havi'  M't  him.  I 
rually  do  not  think  I  havi>  lioani  hiH  voico  in  the  C'uiirt  of  Kin^'M 
])<Mi('h  th(>M>  three  tertiiH.  Hut  he  nuty  ho  conHidereit  the  lender 
of  Op|)oHition,  which  \n  nither  a  more  Nplendid  Nittiatiori  than 
that  of  a  '  ri^in^  junior.' 

Tiirnplii,  March  0,  IHIO. 

My  DKAU  Fatiikk: —  .  .  .  I  have  taken  t(M|uarrellinj,' with 
<fil>lw^  lately,  iuHteiul  of  li<M-d  Klleidiorou^h.  Mere  I  huv(>  a 
)(reat  advant^ige  in  not  iH'inj^  at  all  afraid  of  my  anta^oniNt,  and 
poHHf'HHing  my  faculties  entire  during  the  contcHt.  Having  known 
him  familiarly  at  the  Inir,  I  f((>l  no  mysterioiiH  awe  in  belioMin^ 
him;  and,  notwithntjindin);  hi.<t  profound  knov.ledp'of  law,  i;ieat 
(|uickm»M  of  |M>rc(>ption,  and  Hinji^ular  turn  for  Hueer  and  .suciuni, 
he  ha«  not  nuich  copicaiHueHH  of  diction  or  energy  of  niannvr. 
lie  (!uu not  deal  the  kn<M'k-nie-down  blow,-  of  old  Hroii<>;li,  and 
if  you  watch  your  opportunity  ytai  may  ^iv<;  him  a  ptnl^er.  1 
am  Hcldoni  in  a  cauHv  of  any  consc(|uenee  In't'ori^  him  without 
|{(!tting  into  wmie  Miuabble  with  him.  Lant  Saturday  it  came  to 
a  Hort  of  criwiH.  He  overruhnl  a  point  I  had  nuule,  very  eon- 
temptuourtly  and  without  allowing  me  a  fair  opportunity  to  lj«> 
heawl.  I  exprcHwed  Home  rcMcntment.  He  found  fault  with  my 
irregularity.  I  nuiintainod  that  I  wan  right.  When  the  eaiiM! 
wan  over  he  privatiily  took  nje  to  tiwk.  I  told  him  he  was 
wrong,  and  that  u|)on  reih'ction  he  would  think  so.  Next 
morning  I  re(!eived  a  note  from  him  (U'siring  to  see  me.  J  ealKil 
upon  him.  He  said  h»!  doubted  of  his  decision,  and  wished  the 
matter  to  Ihj  moved  next  term.  He  was  exceedingly  civil.  We 
talked  it  over  at  sonic  length  and  became  very  good  friends.  I 
complimented  him  upon  the  excellent  order  he  preserve^  in  hi.s 
court,  and  he  expressed  deep  regret  at  being  sonuttinies  obliged 
to  stop  me  for  the  sake  of  regularity,  as  he  always  hears  nio  with 
such  patisfaotion !     I  hope  to  go  on  more  smoothly  with  liiia  in 


^Sir  Vit.ary  Gibbs,  Chief  Justice  oi'  iho  Common  Pleas. 


IHIO.J 


lli;VH    A    iluKSK. 


343 


i'utilh'.  T  liiiv«>  iiiil  liiul  tlif  Mli^litt'r^t  l)ii'ki-riii;^  with  lilV  Titird 
KilU'iilKtroii^li  t!ii>s4'  tlirrc  iiKuitliH.  Hut  li«>  \n  uti  nlu-nil  tiiuii. 
Ilirt  health  hiiM  Inhmi  visililv  dii'liiiiiig  mid  hin  inaiiii(>r  \h  vt>ry 
much  tiiollifKMl.  Il(>  Hr«<ui.H  (|i>M|H>mt«'ly  iri};hti>nt'*l  lest  h(!hh(iuM 
U;  brought  by  hulN>a«  coi-iius  Ix-tori;  th<>  Drvil,  to  In-  puuiHJiHl 
for  ull  IiIm  outmi;t»4. 

Tumpio,  Junel,  1H16. 

My  dkau  ItitoTiiKic —  ...  I  Inifon'  uK'ntinutHl  to  you  that 
I  had  hircil  a  ^;riM)in.  Now  I  hav«>  nuv  honM<,  tor  which  \  |mid 
sixty  >»uincaM — 'it  very  tine  aiiiuial,  I  ran  asMun?  you.  Wht'U  I 
<iui  pick  up  another  hucIi,  my  cHtablinhincnt  will  Ih*  coni[>lcti\ 
I  think  my  ffniliiM  never  dir^playetl  itMcIC  more  than  in  this  pr«>- 
c»•<'dill^r.  I  take  more  eredit  to  myHcIf  tor  Hcttiu^  up  my  };r(M)in 
tind  horsi'K  than  t'oi'  writing  my  lKiok,or  Itiff^^in);  in  Tidd's  oiKce. 
Of  HUeh  et)ort>4  a  e<»nimon  man  is  capable — lait  he  i^  n«)t  n  com- 
iiiiiii  man  who  thus  adaptH  himselt' to  varying  circuniHtanccH,  und 
who  seeks  the  same  obje<'t  by  oppoNitc  means !  liayiu);  (h>wn 
my  lleports  antlsettinjj;  up  my  horses,  I  annoiiticc  that  my  fortune 
is  made,  and  th<>re  will  Im>  a  v^reatcr  disposition  to  etnploy  me.  1 
must,  of  coui-se,  display  tin;  same  assiduity  and  devote<hM!«rt  for 
which  I  have  Inten  hitherto  renmrkctl.  I  have  richh'u  daily  for 
the  last  fortnight  and,  amon^  other  advantages,  hav<!  found  an 
accession  of  health.  1  had  In'oome  mther  di/ftpffttical  and  wiw 
thrcatcnwl  with  a  return  of  my  yellow  complexion,  but  my 
digestive  orjjans  an'  now  well  bnuH'd,  and  the  roHCM  W'^'m  to  blow 
in  my  cheekn. 

Temple,  July  3, 1816. 

Mv  DKAK  Hhotuku: —  .  .  .  I  dined  lat«ly  with  Alexander.* 
I  there  met  a  niece  of  his,  a  very  sweet  and  intorestinj;  ji;irl, 
whom  T  sluudd  lik(!  very  well  for  a  wif<'.  I  went  with  her  a  tew 
days  aftc  to  a  j)ietiire  i^aJicry,  and  afterwards  called  upon  her. 
T  have  not  seen  her  since,  nor  shall  1  probably  see  her  a^ain  these 
three  months.    1  cannot  run  after  her  or  any  woman.    The  thing 


*  Afterwards  Chiuf  Baron  of  the  Exchequer. 


U. 


•  ll.l 


1  •I 


5  it 


,i  li 


I' 


'    ^  h 

■  4  :n 


» - 1. 

:  ! 


fr 


U^' 


"     ^    !,     U.    Ill 


'    1 

II 


m 


i'-W 


it  Fife 


i 

Mil 


314 


Liri:  or  loud  cami'ukll. 


[1816. 

in  ini|MiHtil)lf.  i  would  willin^^ly  Hit<TiH(!i>  nny  ^[y/vn  qiinntity  nf 
IdiHincHH ;  hut  it'  I  wtrc  to  iilt«>tii|>t  tiiiH,  tli<>  coiUTrii  would  ut 
one*'  Itrciik  u|>  iiiid  ^o  to  ruin.  I  iiin  ki'pt  ut  tli(>  tNir  from  niuiu. 
\im  till  \\\ii}it.  Ah  far  in*  moii«>y  Im  uu  oltjort  I  ou^lit  to  In>  I'ully 
HitiNtlHl.  Without  huviii){  ntHt  up  my  i'w  InmiIc,  I  nhoidd  n-ully 
think  I  am  making  very  little  Icmh  than  X.'ltKM)  a  yuur.  .  .  , 


4  Pormit  (lanlonK,  Dn^nor, 


HiiMos,  Aii^iiiit  no,  |M|n. 


My  dkar  FATitKH: — 


I  I 


lavc 


t'*.||< 


owed  vour  ai 


lvi«v  I 


)V 


tnkitif;  up  my  (|Uarti>rM  hy  th<>  wa-Hidr.  lien;  I  am  with  inv 
hr.ikH  an<l  paporH,  and  I  dui  do  my  lony;  vacation  work  almost 
iiM  yvW  iiM  if  I  won'  in  tin'  T«'mpl<'.  Tin-  phu-c  in  rxtit'tni-ly  (|iiit't 
and  H<'«'lud('<l,  and  for  that  rniwtn  I  hav*-  pnlrrrfil  it.  .  .  .  Wo 
arv>  here  without  any  pul>li<uimii>>«>m('nt.x,  and  in  all  rcHpcct^t  vory 
<htll.  The  principal  vir«itor  in  our  <-ou.sin  the  l>nk<>.  1  huv(<  not 
yet  made  hiH  actiuaintance.  Alas!  that  tlic  ;;r<'at  ArncCalliim 
More  should  dwincllc  into  a  watcrin^^  plai'(>  lonii){«'r! 

I  anuiw  mvMcir  with  ridiiij;  out  on  horschack,  ncttiny  aiy 
Reports  throtijjh  the  press,  and  readinj>;  nov«'ln,  Upon  the  whole 
I  like  thi-  solitude  in  which  I  have  placed  myselC,  lint  sonietinicH 
it  is  a  little  too  much  for  me.  A  letter  from  you  will  l)e  a  ^rreat 
treat.  I  do  not  yet  know  w  lictlicr  you  perceived  the  eartli<|ii:iki', 
and  what  ctTeet  it  had  upon  you  and  the  <;'ood  people  of  Cupar. 
The  weather  hen-  is  now  deliohtful,  anti  I  helicve  there  i.s  a  pron- 


jiect  of  an  ahundant  harv<'st.     My  love  to  my  dear  niHtcrs. 

Kver  UHWt  afle«'t'ly  yours, 


J.  CaMI'IUOI,!-, 


Uof^nor,  Sfiptiiiibor  Ifi,  1811 

My  DEAR  BuoTliKU  : —  ...  I  have  fornu'd  an  aequaintaiue 
here  witli  the  ji;reat  Dr.  IJaillie,  who  is  present  in  this  phue, 
when  he  is  not  in  attendance  on  the  K'm;>;  at  Windsor.  Ilowiya 
that  for  ten  ycais  he  worked  at  hi-  i  Mrcssion  seventeen  hours  u 
day,  from  six  in  the  morninjf  till  eleven  at  night,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  very  short  intervals  lor  breakfast  and  dinner.    When 


Ihlli.J 


AT    lUM.Nolt    H)|{    lllh    ilKAI.IM. 


346 


nut  vir«itin){  luilii'tit,"  lit'  \\ai«  >vi'iliii){  Ifttrr^ — ii  iiio^t  hiihl'iiwiMun 
|Mirt  of  IiIm  I'MiployiiK'nt.     Ilt>  Mrtiiin  imw  ii)iii<i«t  i|iilt«;  k)i<M-k«>i| 

up.       AUIlnll'^ll   tint   IIIIK-li   tlinifil    III'   III'lV,  ll<'  Up|H'tirM   ten    MilfH 

oMor.  lit'  now  I'liit'tly  t'linlhuM  liiiiiM'll'  In  iHiiiMiiltntiitiiM,  iiiul 
wlioii  ill  tlii>  foiuitry  lif  will  tmly  m'v  (hi'mmim  |Nirti('iiliirly  iiitrit- 
tliitttj  ti>  liiiii.  Ili>  Iflln  iiic  (wliitt  I  wiiH  lint  uwari'iii')  ilmt  lit>  in 
11  iiiiniHti'i'V  rinii,  tiki*  inyHt'll'.  Hi"  littliiT  wll^  iiiiii!Nti>r  nf  lliiiii- 
iltuii.  Ill'  wiiH  lirniiixlit  tn  tliJH  cniiiitry,  «t  iit  In  Oxt'nrtl,  ttnti 
inti'iHliD't'tl  into  life  l>y  tlic  lliiiit<t'^,  wlm  wirt  liin  tiii<-li'r>.  lie 
liiiH  nituli',  iH  yttii  limy  MiipiH.xt',  nil  iiiiiiifiiM'  liirtiiiif,  liaviii;;  puio 
tliroii^h  iiini-f  Ini^iiifMr*  (litiii  iiiiy  luiui  t'vi'i'tliti  lu'lnrc  in  tlutHuiiiu 
tiiiii'.     Ml'  I'livit'm  iiM  liiwyiTx  inr  tlit>Mp|i'iiilit|  antl  iln-Miiiy;  nitiiu- 

tinllH  wllii'll  mil'  pmlt'Mpinli  ImliN  nut  tn  IIH'II  who  Mirntil  ill  it. 
Ill'  iiiiiMt  ^o  nil  writing  Win  pi'i'si'i-iptiniis  iiitti  l.'ikiii);  liin  y;iiiiii'iiM 
to  tilt'  ciiil  of  till'  t'Impli  r. 

I  livt«  lit'i't!  vt'ry  tpiii'tly  uiiil  Vfi-y  htiipiilly.  Tim  lt.'iiy;tli  nf 
my  Htay  in  iiiii't'iiKiii.  I  litivit  no  prnti'i^hit»iml  fiiKti^i'tnont  till 
till!  loth  ot'  Oi'toht'i',  when  I  oii);;lit  to  Ik>  at  Cnk  in  Monmoiith- 
hliiri'. 


Bo^hor,  ri.|)t«)riibi<r  23,  1810. 

My  DKAii  Fatimok: —  ...  1  don't  know  if  yon  are  uwuru 
that  spi'cial  pIcatli'i'H  tit  tho  bar  arc  in  tho  habit  of  tiikiii<>;  ptipil'i. 
I  Imvi'  (hi'  t)tri'r  of  oni;  to  t'oino  to  iih;  at  ('liriMtin:i>*.  As  he  will 
(Insist  nil!  in  tlrawin;;  ik-rlarationM,  ami  will  put  a  hiinilri'il  ^iii- 
iii'as  ill  my  pin'ki't  without  i^iving  nn'  any  tfouhlc,  I  wuppuac  I 
Dii^lit  not  to  ri'fnse  him. 

Jiiil^i!  Abbott  is  the  only  olil  ai'ipiaiiitaiu'i'  1  liavi>  fnunil  at 
tins  plari'.  I  si'o  him  ofti'ti  anil  somctimi'silini' with  him.  Ilavo 
yon  fouml  ont  IJojijnor  on  tho  map?  I  am  piinj;  t<»  riili-  to-ilay 
to  Si'lsi'v  Hill,  a  promontory  you  will  obsorvr  a  little  way  south- 
oast  from  C'hii'hi'stt'r.  This  is  pi'rhaps  tho  tiiiost  I'liiiiatt'  in  i'-ng- 
lunil,  having  tho  mililnoss  of  tho  wostorn  and  tho  drynoss  of  the 
wistorn  ooitst.  Wo  havo  a  profusion  of  lino  timber  trios  ;j;row- 
ing  down  to  tho  water's  oilgo.  Woro  it  not  for  tho  la/inoss  of 
tho  people,  the  harvest  might  have  been  all  over,  but  th<y  go  on 


•h 


I'i   '1 


,  1  iir 


f'i  j-f 


r* 


1  I  1 

•It 


346  LIFE  OK   ],(>IM)   CAMIMIELL.  [1816 

as  they  ii.-juully  do  wlu'ii  the  reaping  Ix'gins  curly  in  August,  and 
there  is  no  danger  of  bad  weather.  You  s<>ldoni  see  above  two 
or  three  reapers  at  work  together  iu  the  .same  field,  and  these  the 
ordinary  .servants  of  the  farmer.  The  eorn  will  not  be  all  homed 
for  a  fortnight  or  three  week.s.  To  do  them  justiee,  however, 
they  begin  to  make  fttcwks  in  the  farm-yard,  and  some  of  them 
who  have  visited  the  North  eountrec  have  even  reached  the  refine- 
ment of  datfrn.  But  I  do  not  believe  there  are  three  threshing 
nmohines  in  Su.s,sex,  and  the  pnx-ess  of  winnowing  is  generally 
performed  by  the  stream  of  air  between  the  two  barn  doors. 
We  had  ten  days  of  diy  and  sultiy  weather.  At  i)resent  it  is 
again  rather  unsettled. 

Tell  Je.ss  1  have  here  reperused  the  whole  of  *  Sir  Charles 
Grandison  '  and  of  *  Clari.s.'^ji  Harlowe.'  I  was  rather  tired  of 
that  vain  conceited  wretch  iVIiss  Byron,  but  I  was  in  tears  when 
I  bid  adieu  to  Claris-sa.     My  love  to  all  around  you. 


Bognor,  September  27, 181«. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  This  is  the  stupidest  place  on 
the  face  of  the  earth,  and  affords  no  topic  whatever  for  corres- 
pondence. How  differently  was  1  circumstanced  in  the  autumn 
of  the  last  year.  .  .  .  You  nmy  think  it  very  odd  that  I  have 
spent  the  long  vacation  here  instead  of  going  to  Scotland  or 
visiting  the  Continent.  That  I  may  not  appear  to  you  to  have 
acted  absurdly,  I  deem  it  right  to  tell  you  the  true  reason,  which 
possibly  you  might  hear  from  some  other  quarter.  You  are  to 
understand  then  that  I  am  now  in  pcrfkit  health,  and  I  trust 
likely  to  continue  so,  but  I  have  been  unwell.  I  ought  likewise 
to  premise  my  statement  of  my  case,  which  might  otherwise  a 
little  alarm  you,  by  saying  that  there  is  good  reason  for  thinking 
my  complaint  (spitting  of  blood)  proceeded  entii*ely  from  indi- 
gestion and  its  effect  upon  the  mucous  membrane,  so  that  I  never 
was  in  reality  seriously  ill,  although  I  had  .some  cause  for  appro- 
hen,  ion  till  the  nature  of  the  disease  was  ascertained.  .  .  . 

Dr.  Wells  about  a  fortnight  ago  was  down  here  for  two  day.s. 


1816.] 


AT   BOONOn   FOR   1118   flKAI-TH. 


347 


Dr.  BailHc  proimsed  ii  eonsnltatlojj,  to  vliicli  F  r(«ulily  nrcoded. 
As  I  was  going  to  liis  house  I  met  the  two  loaruMl  iloctoi-s  on  the 
bench,  and  T  was  rather  surprineil  than  aniuHod  with  Baillio's 
wcming  levity.  'Here/  Haid  he,  *is  WoIIh  conte  down.  Lot  uh 
8te|)  in,  and  we  shall  have  a  grand  cuusnfUttinii.*  Never  having 
betm  present  at  thin  speeies  of  eonsultation  before,  I  was  nnao 
quaintcd  with  its  formH.  After  we  had  talked  some  time,  I  was 
ordere{l  to  withdraw  into  an  adjoining  room.  While  they  were 
eonsidering  of  their  verdict,  I  (ionfess  I  felt  Home  JtuKtfdtion. 
Ilow<!ver,  when  I  wa.s  called  to  liear  the  wntence  I  was  consid- 
erably relieved.  I  ought  to  mention  that  upon  this  (x-casion 
they  would  take  no  fees.  They  said  tliat  morning  *  they  were 
gentlemen.'  The  regular  consultation  fee  is  three  guineas.  .  .  . 
I  have  not  hinted  at  my  illness  in  any  letters  to  Scotland,  and 
I  trust  they  will  not  hear  of  it.  Our  father  is  i)erfectly  satisfied 
\\ith  the  apology  I  have  made  for  not  visiting  him — the  finish- 
ing of  my  Reports.  I  had  fully  intended  to  go  down  to  Scot- 
land this  autumn,  but  Wells  told  me  I  must  bv  no  means  think 
of  undertaking  such  a  journey.  You  Avill  imagine  I  must  liave 
suffered  some  uneasiness,  but  I  thank  God  I  suj)ported  myself 
with  considerable  fortitude.  I  certainly  did  several  times  appre- 
hend myself  to  be  in  a  very  dangerous  state.  The  distippwint- 
ment  of  all  my  ambitions  projects  cost  me  much  less  than  I 
should  have  expected.  I  was  chiefly  distressed  in  anticiputing 
how  the  news  would  be  received  by  you,  and,  still  more  I  think, 
the  shocik  to  be  sustained  by  our  poor  father.  When  at  the  worst 
I  rei'eived  a  letter  from  him  describing  his  unexampled  hajjpi- 
uess  in  his  children.  A  very  unpletisant  thing,  although  in  a 
different  way,  was  going  into  court  to  be  gazed  at  by  my  brother 
circuiteers.  I  never  mentioned  to  any  of  them  v  hat  was  the 
matter  with  me,  but  fi-om  my  looks  they  were  exceedingly  san- 
(/uine.  I  did  not  know  before  I  was  of  such  <!onsequence. 
There  was  si;cli  a  curiousity  to  know  liow  1  went  on,  and  the 
iutelligence  that  Campbell  was  so  ill  as  not  to  be  able  to  come 
into  court,  circulated  like  an  Extraordinary  Gazette;.  Indeed, 
when  I  left  Gloucester,  my  own  opinion  very  much  concurred 


!i 


848 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1816. 


■with  theirs,  that  I  should  never  join  the  circuit  again.    Once 
more,  however,  /  look  to  the  Woolsack  I  * 

Temple,  October  9, 1816. 

My  dear  George  : —  .  .  .  Last  night  I  returned  from  Bog- 
nor.  ...  1  continue  (luite  well — no  return  whatever  of  my 
complaint.  The  last  fortnight  I  was  at  Bognor  I  bathwl  in  the 
sea  every  morning  without  inconvenience.  This  seems  to  show 
there  could  be  no  harm  in  the  chest.  Baron  writes  me,  *  I  had  a 
few  days  ago  a  letter  from  Baillie.  His  opinion  in  your  case  in  the 
main  agrees  with  that  which  I  had  expressed.  He  thinks  your 
lungs  untouched.'  Baillie  at  first  was  unnecessarily  alarmed  by 
two  circumstances:  first,  an  apparent  quickness  of  pulse.  All 
my  life  I  have  been  easily  excited,  and  in  going  before'  him,  as 
on  rising  to  speak  in  K.  B.,  my  heart  flutters.  I  told  him  ray 
pulse  had  been  quiet  enough  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before,  but  he 
seemed  not  to  believe  me,  and  said,  *At  any  rate  that  shows  a 
great  irritability.'  The  second  circumstance  was  that  he  thought 
my  voice  affected.  Now  I  am  certain  this  proceeded  merely 
from  huskiness.  .  .  .  Baillie  particularly  recommends  exercise 
on  horseback,  which  I  mean  to  take  very  diligently.  Indeed,  I 
never  devoted  myself  to  anything  more  completely  than  the 
acquisition  of  health  during  the  six  Aveeks  I  was  at  Bognor. 
There  are  not  many  men  in  our  profession  Avho  could  lead  such 
a  life.  I  was  in  the  open  air  by  myself  about  five  hours  a  day, 
and  all  the  rest  of  my  time  I  was  in  my  solitary  lodgings  over  a 
book.  This  was  somewhat  like  your  life  at  Agra.  Had  it  not 
been  for  'Sir  Charles  Grandison'  and  'Clarissa  Harlowe,'  I 
know  not  what  would  have  become  of  me.  I  sometimes  felt  a 
little  eery,  you  Avill  suppose,  but  upon  the  whole  I  know  not 
whether  I  would  not  spend  the  time  over  again,  notwithstanding 
my  moments  of  despondency,  were  the  offer  made  me.  .  .  . 

In  chambers  I  remain  till  I  am  married,  giving  no  dinners, 
unless  on  your  return  we  should  take  a  house  together.     The  only 


*  On  the  back  of  this  letter  is  written  in  his  hand,  '  I  got  well  again  in  a 
few  weeks,  and  have  been  well  ever  since.    January  7, 1852.' 


1816.] 


LAST  NUMBER  OP   NISI   PRIUS   REPORTS. 


341) 


Miospitality'  T  used  to  exercise  wns  giving  uu  annual  dinner  to 
the  momberH  of  the  Ikosvving  chib,  AvhicJi  I  fear  this  long  vaca- 
tion will  he  lost.  Some  men  living  in  chambers  give  dinners, 
but  the  trouble  to  me  would  be  very  groat.  I  have  laid  in  a  fine 
stock  of  Madeira  wine  for  you.  I  have  a  pipe  now  in  Jamacia 
and  two  half-pipes  at  Home.  Horner,  I  think,  is  the  only  bach- 
elor lawyer  who  has  a  house.  Brougham  may  be  considered  as 
having  now  cut  the  law  altogether.  Hc^  has  given  up  the  circuit, 
never  comes  into  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  and  has  quitted  the 
Temple.  .  .  . 

Tomple,  November  13, 1816. 

My  dear  Father  • —  ...  The  last  part  of  my  Reports  is 
published.  I  continue  well  pleased  with  my  resolution  to  relin- 
quish the  undertaking.  I  have  given  an  account,  as  I  intended, 
of  the  opinions  of  the  judges  in  the  Berkeley  Peerage  case. 
This,  as  you  obscrval,  has  no  connection  with  Nisi  Prius,  but  it 
wa.s  a  case  of  the  greatest  importjuice  which  had  never  been  pub- 
Hshetl,  and  of  which  I  had  the  means  of  giving  an  excellent 
report.  It  has  been  very  well  received,  and  will  continue  to  be 
quoted  as  long  as  the  English  law  lasts. 

Poor  Horner,  on  account  of  a  pulmonic  complaint,  has  been 
obliged  to  give  up  the  profession,  and  retire  for  the  winter  to 
Italy. 


:  \r, 


m 


i ;  i  ;i. 


,{^i| 


360 


LIFE  OF  LORD  OAMi'BELL. 


[1817 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Januauy,  1817— Novkmueb,  1819. 

Dinuer  Party  at  the  Verulam— His  PupilH — Death  of  Hornor  -jififord  made 
Solicitor-Qonoral — Arhitration  CaHO  in  Ohunoi'f^aiiHhiro — Thinks  of  get- 
ting into  Parliament — Uctnin  of  his  Brother  from  India — They  go  the 
Circuit  Tiigfdhi'r — Viriit  to  (^Ufiar,  and  Tour  in  tJm  Highlands  with  his 
Fathor  and  Brotluir — Dnath  of  Sir  Saniurd  Romilly — Businpsf"  on  the 
Spring  Circuit,  1819— Gives*  up  Attending  Quarter  Sessions— LanarkHhire 
Election  Committee — Portrait  of  Dr.  Campbell  by  Raeburn — Applies  for 
a  Silk  Gown — George  Campbell  buys  Edonwood,  near  Cupar,  Fife — They 
Travel  Abroad  Together — French  Courts  of  Juntiue. 


Temple.  January  3, 1817. 

My  deak  Fatiieu  : —  ...  We  have  lately  had  a  prospect 
of  an  opening-  upon  the  eircuit  which  I  nuwt  .sincerely  clej)rocate. 
Poor  Jervis,  our  header,  has  been  extremely  ill ;  hut  he  is  now 
much  better,  and  J  trust  will  be  prcf^ervcd  to  his  family,  who  are 
entirely  dej)endent  ui)on  him.  I  continue  (luite  well  mvself.  If 
you  are  not  .satisfied  with  my  authority  upon  this  subject,  you 
shall  have  Mr.  Justice  Abbott's.  Hc^  lately  pave  a  "rand  dimier 
to  some  men  of  thv-  Oxford.  When  I  entered  he  said,  'Well, 
Campbell,  how  are  you?  But  I  need  not  asic ;  we  have  hoard 
your  voice  pretty  often  last  term,  and  it  ha-  sounded  like  that  of 
a  man  in  vigorous  health.'  He  particularly  alluded  to  the  occa- 
sion when  I  put  down  my  Lord,  making-  all  Westminster  Hall 
re-echo  to  my  tones  of  indignation.  But  my  usual  practice  now  is 
to  speak  very  loud  and  distinctly.  I  stick  to  one  of  the  back 
seats  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  which  is  iiearly  on  a  level 
with  th(!  bench,  and  from  thence  kcc})  up  a  fire  at  them  point 
blank.  Ellenborough  used  to  plague  me  by  j)retendiiig  to  mis- 
hear the  names  of  cases  which  I  cited,  but  now  I  make  him  hear 
on  the  deafest  side  of  his  head. 

I  had  yesterday  a  very  favorable  speximen  of  the  manners  of 


1817.] 


DIN.NKI!    I'AUTV    Al     Till;    VKUIJLAM. 


351 


uii  Pjijuity  jiul^i'.  We  luwl  a  dimu'i'  [Mirty  of  twelve  at  the  Veru- 
luin,  of  wliuin  tlic  Master  of  tlic  Rolls*  was  one,  and  I  had  the 
honor  to  sit  next  him.  Though  lUmous  for  his  taciturnity,  ho 
talked  a  good  deal,  telling  us  anei.'dotcs  of  his  convivial  parties 
with  Pitt  and  Dundas.  He  was  very  polite  to  nie,  and  men- 
tioned very  obligingly  an  appeal  from  Botany  Bay  which  was 
heard  before  the  Privy  Council  about  six  months  ago,  and  in 
which  I  was  counsel.  Alexander,  who  is  a  gr<'at  friend  of  hia 
Honor,  wjw  present.  1  continue  on  a  friendly  footing  with  him. 
There  is  some  talk  of  his  being  made  a  JJaron  of  the  Exchequer. 
He  is  rather  too  fat  and  indolent  for  a  judge,  although  a  man  of 
most  excellent  good  sense  and  a  very  fair  lawyer. 

Horner  is  said  to  be  rather  better,  but  I  fear  there  is  little  hope 
of  his  being  able  to  return  to  public  life. 


Ill 


fr;. 


Temple,  January  3, 1817. 

My  dkak  Brother: —  .  .  .  When  I  foil  ill  in  June  I  was 
becoming  a  very  gay  man,  attending  routs,  &('.,  but  I  have  since 
lost  my  ground  completely.  I  hope  I  shall  soon  be  able  to  recover 
it.  I  dine  almost  daily  at  the  Verulam,  with  miserable  old  bache- 
lors like  myself.  Not  but  that  wc  have  a  mixture  of  youth  and 
fashion.  Yesterday  we  had  a  made  pjirty  of  twelve,  among 
whom  was  no  leas  a  personage  than  the  Right  Hon,  Sir  William 
(irant,  the  Master  of  the  Rolls.  He  is  I  think  by  fiir  the  greatest 
judge  Ave  have.  Indeed  he  comes  up  to  the  highest  notion  I  c^u 
form  of  judicial  excollcjiee.  This  dinner  cost  us  a  guinea  apiece. 
But  you  will  und.irstand  that  it  is  only  on  extraordinary  occasions 
that  the  charge  is  so  high.  Dinner,  exclusive  of  wine,  is  usually 
only  six  shillings,  and,  unlike  a  coft'ee  house,  there  if-  no  necessity 
for  drinking  wine  unless  you  like.  Till  within  the  last  three 
weeks  I  have  not  tasted  wine  these  six  months,  and  now  I  limit 
myself  to  half  a  pint,  so  that  the  expense  is  not  greater  than  at 
a  decent  coflfee  house  after  paying  the  waiter.  .  ,  . 

My  illness  must  no  doubt  have  been  matf  I'lally  injurious  to 


!•  nr 


*  Sir  William  Grant. 


352 


J.ll'i;  (»K   l,oUl)  rAMl'HELL. 


[181 


my  hiMiiM'HM.  It'  M  mini  risiiiw-  to  tuldiTSM  llu'  jury,  in  clcarlnjr 
hin  throat  spits  up  a  <iii:mtity  of  1>Io<mI,  the  fij^hfc  of  hin  handkcr- 
ohit'f  rathrr  thnmn  a  (htiup  u[)oi)  his  (>I(K|Uciico,  ami  he  is  hoiik*- 
whut  upprrhensivt!  of  puhiionary  cxortion.  This  happened  to 
lue  upon  tht!  lircuit  several  times.  Hut  I  must  have  sutferetl 
more  I'rom  the  reports  of  my  illness  so  industriously  spread  ahroud. 
*  Poor  Cami)l)ell  is  in  a  bad  way.  He  is  j^onc  down  to  Bo^^nor 
to  die.' 

The  new  year  o|)ens  auspiciously.  Not  (»nly  do  1  feel  (piitt! 
stout,  but  I  have  luul  more  business  than  1  ever  had  before  at 
this  season.  Cases  pour  in  from  attorneys  whose  names  I  never 
heard  of  lK;fore.  J.  has  sent  out  another  ship  to  Calcutta,  (he 
'Richmond.,  She  carries  the  mail.  L  had  not  heard  of  her  till 
she  hud  sailed,  or  I  would  have  sent  you  *01d  Mortality'  by  the 
captain.     What  an  exquisite  produetion  this  is ! 


Temple,  January  30, 1317. 

My  DEAR  Fatheu: —  .  .  .  I  think  I  mentioned  to  you  1  hud 
a  pupil  coming.  He  has  joined,  and  paid  me  his  100  guineas 
down  upon  the  nail.  For  this  he  has  tlu;  privilege  of  looking  at 
the  cuscs,  pleadings,  and  other  business  passiug  through  my 
chambers.  .  . 

[In  the  Autobiography  he  thus  writes  about  his  pu])ils  in 
shambei-s. — Ed.]  : 


My  I'eputation  as  a  lawyer  brought  me  many  offers  of  pupils 
to  read  in  my  chambers,  and  to  assist  me  in  my  business.  I  took 
only  two  at  a  time,  receiving  from  each  100  guineas  a  year.  I 
cannot  boast  of  any  of  them  having  risen,  or  being  likely  to  rise, 
to  much  eminence,  except  my  countryman  and  friend,  David 
Dundas,  now  u  Queen's  counsel  and  M.P.  for  the  county  of 
Sutherland,  who,  if  he  preserves  his  health  and  the  Whigs  are 
ever  again  in  power,  will  probably  reach  the  highest  honors  of 


1817.] 


DKATII   Oil   FIIANCIH    HORNER. 


363 


the  prafcssion ;  "*  and  Vuughan  WillianiH,  oil  odrairablo  lawyer, 
who  ought  to  l)c  a  puisne  judgc.f 

Temple,  March  8,  1817. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  You  have,  of  course,  heard  of 
the  death  of  poor  Horner.J  He  was  a  very  amiable  man  in 
private  life  as  well  as  poHScssod  of  first-rate  abiliticM.  His  loss  is 
universally  lamented.  Brougham  iH  going  on  very  8Uc(x^ssfully 
this  season  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and  is  now  in  very  good 
odor  there.  He  usetl  to  be  rather  disliked,  and  particularly  by 
the  country  gentlemen.  He  may  almost  be  considered  as  having 
left  th^  bar.  He  flies  at  higher  game.  I  have  not  heard  who  is 
to  defend  the  traitors.     He  very  likely.|| 

I  went  into  the  House  of  liords  to  hear  the  Scotchmen  in  the 
Queensbury  cases.  Jeffrey  I  did  not  like  at  all.  But  I  was 
greatly  pleased  with  Cmnston,  who  comes  up  to  every  notion  I 
can  form  of  a  legal  reasoner.  Moncrieff  has  some  vigor,  but  is 
extremely  inelegant.  God  bless  you  all.  Write  to  me  soon — 
*  On  the  Oxford  circuit.* 

Shrewsbury,  March  23,  1817. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  In  the  absence  of  good  luck  I 
iiuve  only  had  one  positive  misfortune  while  I  have  l)eeu  upon 
the  circuit — the. loss  of  my  wig  and  gown,  which,  us  I  had  sent 
forward  my  clerk,  a  brother  barrister  undertook  to  bring  from 
Stafford  to  Shrewsbury.  On  his  arrival  here  they  were  not  to 
be  found,  and  I  was  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  consternation, 
thinking  I  should  not  be  able  to  go  into  court  at  all.  I  went  to 
the  theatre  to  borrow  th-'  wig  and  gown  in  which  they  play 
Lawyer  Scout,  but  Mr.  Crispc,  the  manager,  was  at  Hereford. 

*  He  was  made  Solicitor-General  in  July,  1816,  and  was  Judge  Advocatn 
from  184S)  to  185:2.     He  died  March  30, 1877.— Ed. 

t  Ho  was  made  a  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas,  October,  1846.  Died  Novem- 
ber, 1875.— Ed. 

t  Francis  Horner  died  at  Pisa,  February  8,  1817 — aged  thirty-seven. — Ed. 

II  Dr.  Watson  and  others  were  to  be  tried  for  high  treason. — El>. 

VOL  I.  15* 


il 


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i  it 


I'  I 

•  1 1 


m 


Ni: 


304 


MFK  OV   LOUD  CAMi'liKI.I,. 


[iHi: 


Cuo|K>r  then  |>1'U|h>8ch1  I  Hhould  l)4)ri*()\v  a  ^owii  from  hoiiu!  vlcr- 
gyiuuii  iti  tlio  t(>\vu,iui(l  with  any  other  jiul^t;  thiui  Park  I  would 
have  (lone  ho,  ,lmt  hi;  would  have  thouj^ht  thiH  a  |>rt>tanation  of 
the  holy  vestment.  At  last  the  Clerk  of  th(>  Indictnients,  hrar- 
ing  of  my  distretw,  sent  me  hi>4  rolM>,  whiih,  thouj^h  of  a  ditferent 
eut  from  ourM,  enabled  me  to  appear  without  mueh  olMervation. 
After  Hending  back  my  servant  to  Stafford  in  weareh  of  the  j^own 
and  wig,  they  were  found  eoncealed  in  the  carriage  of  the  man 
who  had  undertaken  to  brin^  them.  Can  it  Im;  wondia'ed  that 
private  life  afr«)rdn  nothing  more  interet^ting,  when  the  great 
subject  of  political  discussion  now  is  whether  l^onapartc  shall  l)e 
allowed  more  or  less  than  a  bottle  of  wine  a  day  ? 

Temple,  May  9. 1817. 

My  dear  Brother: —  .  .  .  We  talk  of  nothing  here  hut 
Clifford's  In'ing Holicitor-Genend.  'Give  him  the  go-by,' indeed ! 
In  five  years  h<»  will  be  Chan<'ell<)r  or  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Court  of  King's  Bench,  with  a  peerage.  He  is  a  man  of  very 
<misiderable  merit;  but  to  win  such  a  stake  there  nmst  Iw  a 
concurrence  of  great  skill  and  great  good  luck.  The  motives 
of  Ministers  are  excellent.  Instead  of  being  a  hangor-on  at 
Carlton  irouse,  I  Iwlieve  his  existence  was  unknown  to  every 
one  of  the  Iloyal  family.  lie  began  life  as  a  chorister  in  the 
Cathedral  at  Exeter.  I  believe;  and  I  hope  that  he  will  do 
(ffctlit  to  his  new  situation,  'i'licrc  has  not  been  such  a  sudden 
elevation  since  the  time  of  Jjord  Hardwicke,  who  was  made 
Holicitor-Cieneral  at  seven  an<l  twenty. 


ToTiiplp,  i.Iay  27, 1817. 

My  DKAii  linoTiiKU: — This  may  cat<'h  you  as  you  embark, 
and  inform  you  that  we  all  continue  well,  which  may  be  the  hist 
news  you  hear  of  us  before  your  arrival  in  England.  I  now 
a)unt  with  the  most  absolute  certainty  on  your  sailing  in  Decem- 
hcT.  1  have  now  only  to  wish  you  favorable  gales,  and  to  pray 
that  we  may  have  a  happy  meeting  in  May,  1818.     I  rather 


1817.]      HIH    FATHKU'm    F0»TY-«KVENTII   MAillAMKNT. 


im 


imagine  our  futlu'r  will  comu  up  to  rctrivu  you.     lie  is  now  in 
IC<liulmi-}r|i  witli  Ma)i;(lalen,  uttemlin);  tlic  AwK'uibly. 

ToniplA,  June  24, 1817, 

Mv  DKAii  Father: —  .  .  .  Wcthorfll  and  Copley,  the 
cuunM;!  for  tlu;  truitoix,'*'  arc  partinilnr  fVicndn  of  niino,  and 
very  <'lever  fellowH.  Tlu'y  di.Htin^uislicd  tli(>niH<'lves  nuirh.  (jif- 
furd  likewist!  made  an  ex(^ell<>nt  h|h><!cIi,  and  fully  justified  hiii 
ap|)ointn)ent.  He  has  not  lH>en  so  lucky  in  the  House  of  Coni- 
inons.  He  haM  a  blender  share  of  politit^al  information,  and  will 
never  make  a  great  iwrliainentary  orator,  hut  he  will  Ih>  found 
useful  afl  often  a»  Ic^al  HuhjeiitM  are  <]!-'ruHsed  in  the  House.  It 
WOH  a  very  ill-advised  prose<;ution.  .  .  .  Now  we  hwk  forward 
to  the  circuit.  What  s  Ixxly  of  law  we  have  on  the  Oxford — 
l*ark  and  Garrow  !  how  often  have  I  (iraniniod  them  at  consulta- 
tion 1  but  they  were  batl  recijuentfl. 

Salop,  August  3,  lan. 

My  dear  Father: —  .  .  .  From  hour  to  hour  on  Sunday 
I  followed  the  service  through  it#<  various  stages  till  I  thought 
you  must  have  concluded  ytnir  thanksgiving  s<'rni()n  in  the  even- 
ing. I  wish  I  couki  iiHsist  at  )-our  forty-seventh  iSacrament. 
Of  all  the  religious  cereiiionics  1  have  seen  or  read  of,  I  find 
nothing  so  impressive  and  truly  gnuid  as  the  administration  of 
the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  SnpjHn"  according  t(»  the  forms  of  the 
(y'hurch  of  Scotland.  Ge«)rge  will  soon  Ik;  with  you,  and  I  think 
you  must  make  him  aJi  elder,  although  1  am  afraid  he  will  he 
rather  graceless  on  liis  first  arrival  fruni  the  Fast  J  wasamusi^d 
with  a  Hrr/f  cx]>rcssion  of  Dr.  S.  v.licn  he  first  called  on  me  on 
ii  Sunday  morning  about  one  o'lock.  *T  have  been  calling,' 
Slid  he,  'on  a  number  of  my  old  friends,  but  1  cun  see  none  of 
them  :  for  the  people  in  this  country  sct'in  to  have  contracted  a 
habit  of  going  to  church  on  Sunday.' 


It. 


:■  I' 


,  t 


i  ■' 


In  the  trial  of  Dr.  W»tson,  acfusod  of  high  treason. — Ed. 


856  Lll'l-:  OF   U>l(l)  rAMI'HKI.I..  [Ih]?. 

Tamplfl,  HvptAmbtr  IS.  tKi7. 

My  i>EAR  Fatiikr: —  .  .  .  Tli<Mirguiu<>ii(H  uf^uiiiHf my  ^uin^r 
into  Parliament  I  fetir  proixjndcriito.  It  in  nmaxiii)^  tiow  little 
parliamentttry  distinction  (I'm-h  fur  a  man  nowmluyH  nt  tlic  hir. 
Brougham  wont  to  the  York  a^-*i/cH  tluM  Humnicr.  How  luunv 
brivi'M  hud  he?  Two!  Whut  wtno  thoy?  One  in  itn  oihI«- 
fcndvd  (uu8i!,  th<*  other  in  u  writ  uf  in<)uiry  before  tlic  utidcr- 
Hhcrifft  UnlctM  there  slxuild  be  hoiih!  piihlin  convulMion,  I  doulit 
whether  he  iH  ever  likely  to  li<>ld  tiny  high  ofliec  in  tlir  State. 
He  huM  no  ehttri'<  ler  for  <lih.  icticm.  But  he  re<'(iv'('rs  liinisoH' 
HurpriHingly, uud  lUt  liiks  m»  uiikIi  energy  that  he  iu  sure  ti)  niain- 
tuin  a  high  Htalion  in  the  eoiiuiiunity. 

You  give  me  nt>  udviee  ahoiit  murriiige.  You  are  not  uwaiv 
tliat  I  urn  rapidly  LMX'oniing  an  old  bachelor.  If  I  am  to  marry, 
what  ought  1  aim  at?  Wealth,  Birth,  or  Beauty?  Unfor- 
tunately my  meauM  of  obrtei'vatioM  and  8eopu  of  ueleetion  are  V(  '°y 
limit^'d,  I  reproaeh  myrielf  with  not  having  gone  more  into 
society ;  but  how  can  I  make  morning  e^dls  when  I  am  at  the 
Guildhall  sittings,  or  attend  evening  partiiti  when  I  am  drawing 
demurrers?  Without  these  attentions  an  invitation  to  dinner  in 
hopek'KH,  niid  tln;n  I  ean  only  aeeejit  it  when  it  comes  for  a  Sat- 
urday or  Sunday.  I  see  little  hoi)e  of  having  what  Couii-sellor 
Phillips  calls  *  a  soother  of  my  cares  and  a  partner  of  my  for- 
tunes.' Could  you  do  anything  for  me  in  Fife?  What  would 
the  Ladies  Melville  say  to  our  alliance?  I  give  you  full  powerH 
to  negotiate  and  conclude  a  matrimonial  treaty  for  me.  You 
may  say,  when  asked  for  my  rent  roll,  that  I  have  u  rood  of 
ground  in  Westminster  that  brings  me  in  i!3000  a  year. 

My  tendcrcst  love  to  my  sisters.  I  hope  Magdalen  will 
attend  to  her  new  walk  and  her  flower  borders  more  diligently 
than  ever,  us  George  and  I  are  to  pass  judgment  on  them  at  the 
same  time. 


Ternplo,  October  26, 1817 

My  dear  Fatuku  : — I  have  seldom  received  a  letter  from 
you  which  interested  me  more  than  your  lost,  as  it  gave  me  such 


1817.] 


ARniTKATION  CAHK   IN    WAI.m. 


.167 


u  livoly  pit'tiirt!  of  your  (M'«>ii|Hitionit,  ImlntM  ami  fw^lingN,  Th« 
rt'colN'rtlonH  ('xciti'jl  hy  tlu.  iiuiuch  of  tht-  fiitlnnt  of  tin*  Pr«*l)y- 
ii>ry  now  rcHtiii^  from  thrir  liilntrH,  thoii^^li  inoiirnful,  nra  not 
iMiphustnt.  I  p'liu'inliiT  all  tlioN«>  you  tuciition,  except  Hpiuikio 
iiikI  Wiiiy;;it<>.  I  irtuin  tlii>  iiua^o  of  u  v«'iit>ralilo  li|{uit>  with 
wliii<'  locks  and  lon^  l>Ia<-k  luMttrt  oiH>nin^  at  the  HidcM,  Init  that 
I  iltinU  vv:is  Nf  Lyon,  f  I'car  thi)  rising  ffcuoitttion  of  niiniHt<^rH 
ill  iiilrrior  ('  (hi'ir  |ii' fld-c-sorM  l>oth  in  Irarninj^  and  con- 
VI    iaiity. 

Whilr  It  tint  Ulou  vAfv  Hr-sioiiH  I  WHS  invited  to  a  rtplendid 
fntertatiinient  j^Iven  hy  the  Ituv.  Dr.  Ridley,  one  of  the  pre- 
k'ndarie.s,  and  l»rother-in-Ia\v  of  thu  I^>rd  Chaneelior.  Thei*o 
wiw  present  Iiieut.-(/oloni'l  Sir  Churles  (ireville,  brother  of  the 
Fiiirl  oT  \Varwi<*k,  reckoned  on'  of  I^ord  NV<!ilinj;ton'a  very  <li»- 
tin^tlishe«l  oHicetN.   .  .  . 

Xext  nioniin;;  at  five  1  wiw  in  th(^  staj^o  eoaeh  tor  Oluniorgan- 
nhire,  w ')i.>re  I  was  uhlijrt'd  to  jro  upoi.  a  lon^;;  pen«lin^  arl>itrutioD 
ri'Mpeclinj;  the  4al)le  end  of  u  hoiinc,  At  Neafh  I  I'uuikI  th«!  attor- 
neys on  l)oth  si<les,  and  half  tlic  town,  eaj^erly  exjH'ctinf;  nic 
We  went  to  take  a  view  of  the  picniises,  attcnchjd  hy  a  mob  of 
M«!veraJ  hnn<h'e<l  imtsohm.  Thi;  place  had  <[nite  the  appearanco 
ot"  a  ^'enei'al  elci  ,ion.  Irs.  Tyler  was  the  popular  eandidati!, 
find  they  halloi'l  out,  Tyler  for  ever  I '  *  Down  with  (irant! ' 
'  Tyler  for  ever  I '  Mmntlay  morning  ut  nine  I  took  my  place  on 
the  hench,  and  cuntinned  exaiuining  witne-sjies  till  three.  We 
tlion  again  visited  llic  disputed  wall,  and  kniK-ked  down  almost 
the  whole  of  it,  with  a  hope  of  ascertuininjr,  by  th(>  structure  and 
mat<'rial.s,  wlu  ii  aiul  by  whom  it  waa  built.  The  whole  is  eor- 
taiidy  not  worth  £10,  The  expenses  of  one  side  already  amount 
to  jL'DOO,  ajid  those  of  the  other  ean  l)e  very  little  if  at  all  less. 
Ihivinj;  broken  up  my  court,  I  had  a  walk  to  the  most  beautiful 
[ilacc  I  ever  saw — Hritton  Ferry  the  seat  of  the  Lords  Vernon. 
Thou;rh  close  to  the  seaside,  it  is  sheltered  by  the  finest  tlml)er, 
and  the  myrtles  W(!re  growinj;  in  the  open  air  above  twelve  feet 
high.  Dined,  reeonsidered  the  evidence,  wrote  out  a  sketch  of 
my  award,  an<l  at  half-past  ten  got  into  the  mail  for  Bristol.    We 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTFR.N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


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S66 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1817. 


have  an  awkward  feny  to  cross,  rather  bromlcr  tliaii  at  Dundee. 
Without  being  in  any  danger,  we  got  upon  a  rock  on  the  Glou- 
cestershire side,  and  were  obh'ged  to  be  there  till  the  tide  fell. 
This  however  was  not  long,  for  the  tide  rises  and  falls  here  bctwet'n 
fifty  and  sixty  feet,  nnd  then  we  were  able  to  walk  to  the  piwsuge 
house  across  a  ledge  of  rocks.  Reached  Bristol  alwut  twelve 
and  proceede<l  by  another  coach  to  Bath.  Promenaded  in  the 
pump  room,  looked  at  the  house  taken  for  old  Queen  Charlotte, 
got  into  the  coach  at  four,  and  reatihcd  town  cjirly  next  morning. 
For  the  last  fifty  miles  I  was  not  conscious  of  the  change  of  horses ; 
St)  I  was  as  fresh  when  I  cnteretl  the  Temple  as  if  I  had  been  in 
bed  the  whole  of  the  two  prece<ling  nights.  Here  I  am,  ready 
for  the  campaign  which  opens  to-morrow  at  Serjeants'  Inn, 

t    i  Temple,  April,  1818. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  got  back  to  the  Temple  yester- 
day in  safety.  I  have  hardly  time  to  say  more.  You  may  be 
very  tranquil  about  Parliament,  as  I  am  not  likely  to  get  into 
the  House  ip  the  way  I  should  like.  I  had  an  oiler  of  a  seat 
last  night  for  £4000.  Considering  the  King's  age  this  is  more 
than  the  thing  is  worth.  If  no  lucky  chance  turns  up,  I  shall 
be  contented  to  jog  on  at  the  bar.  I  continual  to  thrive  to  the 
very  end  of  the  circuit,  and  my  success  is  talked  of  as  being  very 
decisive.  Gret  rid  of  Jervis  and  Dauncey  for  me,  and  you  will 
soon  see  me  at  the  head  of  the  Oxford. 

The  only  remarkable  thing  in  the  law  is  Serjeant  Copley  com- 
ing into  the  House  of  Commons  for  a  Treasury  borough,  in  the 
room  of  the  Lord  Advocate  of  Scotland.  It  is  expected  he  will 
be  Solicitor-General  on  the  next  vacancy.  He  and  I  used  to 
attend  seditious  meetings  together.  Perhaps  we  may  sit  together 
on  the  Treasury  bench.  But  he  was  more  of  a  Jacobin  than  me. 
I  have  been  always  too  moderate  to  be  received  into  favor. 

Temple,  May  3, 1818. 

My  Dear  Father: —  .  .  .  My  parliamentary  projects  are 
likely  to  prove  abortive.     Joseph  Pitt  has  sold  Wootton  Bassett. 


1818.] 


RETTURN  OF  HIS  BROTHER  FROM  IKDIA. 


369 


I  have  iigain  had  an  offer  from  Ijeorainster,  but  I  will  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  it.  In  trutli  my  irclination,  which  was  never 
decided,  wavers  very  mueli.  The  more  I  am  in  spirits  an  to  pro- 
fessional prospects,  the  less  I  care  about  the  House  of  Commons. 
The  ridicule  and  disgrace  incurretl  by  a  lawyer  supposed  to  go 
over  to  Ministers  are  quite  appalling.  I  would  not  be  the  subject 
of  all  the  jokes  and  sarcasms  circulated  against  Copley  for  all  his 
prospects.  He  told  me  to-day  he  wished  the  offer  had  never  l)een 
made  to  him.  I  comforted  him  by  saying,  *  I  defend  you  always, 
Copley,  as  strenously  as  I  can.  I  am  obliged  to  admit  that  it  is 
a  melancholy  defection  and  a  dreadful  fall ;  but,  say  I,  think  of 
his  temptation ;  if  he  has  sold  himself  it  is  for  a  good  price;  in 
three  years  he  will  be  Chief  Justice  of  England.'  To  use  the 
language  of  Bonaparte,  '  I  am  not  wholly  without  principle,'  and 
in  the  Flouse  of  Commons  I  should  be  more  apt  (without  even 
going  into  regular  opposition)  to  breed  enmity  than  to  conciliate 
favor.  Meanwhile  my  business,  without  any  rapid  strides,  grad- 
ually improves.  I  am  going  next  week  to  dine  with  my  old 
friend  Perry,  the  fii'st  time  for  many  years.  He  has  one  of  the 
finest  houses^  and  gives  the  best  dinners,  of  any  man  in  London. 
For  this  reason  he  is  invited  by  all  ranks,  up  to  Royal  dukes. 
His  paper  brings  him  £10,000  a  year. 

Temple,  July  2, 1818. 

My  deau  Father  : —  .  .  .  George  and  I  go  on  together  as 
well  as  heart  of  man  could  desire.*  He  is  not  at  all  sophisticated 
by  his  Indian  life.  In  body  and  mind  he  retains  all  his  former 
vigor.  His  accent  even  is  genuine  Fife.  I  I  have  no  spare  bed 
fit  for  a  Nabob,  and  he  has  gone  into  lodgings ;  but  he  break- 
fasts with  me  every  morning,  and  we  have  generally  a  ride 
together  before  dinner.  We  have  had  jmrticular  pleasure  in 
revisiting  our  old  haunts,  particularly  the  Swan  in  New  Street, 
where  I  first  saw  him  when  he  came  up  to  London ;  and  the 
Bedford  Head  in  Maiden  Lane,  where  we  used  to  dine  together 

*  His  brother  returned  from  India  in  Jane,  1818,  after  an  absence  of  eigh- 
teen years. — Ed. 


if 


ill 


360 


LIFE  OP  IX)RD  CAMPBELL. 


[1818. 

at  un  ordinary.  We  recognized  the  faces  of  three  men  who 
uwhI  constantly  to  dine  there  eighteen  years  ago. 

The  circuit  begins  in  about  ten  days.  George  accompanies 
me.  If  he  tires  of  us  he  will  at  once  run  down  to  Scotland. 
I  fancy  h©  will  write  to  you  under  the  same  cover,  and,  as  he 
has  more  leisure,  I  leave  to  him  to  give  you  a  more  minute  detail 
of  our  proceedings. 

My  friend  Twiss  is  again  thrown  out  for  Wootton  Bassett  by 
a  majority  of  one.  He  means  to  petition.  Of  my  contempo- 
raries. Shepherd,  son  of  the  Attorney-General ;  Denraan,  ap'oUgS 
of  Lord  Holland's;  and  Robert  Grant,  sou  of  the  East  India 
Director,  are  members  of  the  new  Parliament.  Shepherd,  I 
apprehend,  will  be  silent;  Denman  will  make  some  figure; 
Grant  is  a  good  declaimer,  but  I  do  not  think  he  will  succeed  in 
tlie  House. 

Lord  Ellenborough  has  for  the  present  retired  from  business, 
and  Gibbs  has  done  the  same.  We  get  on  very  badly  at  sittings 
with  the  puisnes.  Who  will  l)o  the  new  chiefs  it  is  quite 
impossible  to  tell. 

I  enclose  a  draft  for  £50  to  enable  you  to  have  any  little 
matters  that  may  be  wanting  for  our  visit.  But  George  has 
about  him  a  great  spirit  of  economy^  and  the  more  simple  things 
are  the  more  they  will  suit  his  taste.  Indeed  I  don't  know  that 
in  this  respect  we  at  all  differ 

Hereford,  August  9, 1818. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  intended  to  have  written  you  a  long 
letter  to-day.  What  then  has  prevented  me  ?  Business  ?  Not 
at  all.  My  last  <?ause  was  disposal  of  last  night,  and  I  do  not 
leave  this  place  till  to-morrow  morning.  Alack !  alack !  'The 
Heart  of  Midlothian ! '  I  am  not  a  dutiful  bairn  like  Jeanie 
but,  like  Effie,  follow  the  bent  of  my  own  inclination.  You 
however  have  not  the  harshness  of  Douce  Davie  and,  if  I  have 
less  excuse,  I  shall  have  more  pity  for  my  errors.  I  got  Walter's 
new  publication  from  a  circulating  library  yesterday  evening.  I 
sat  up  till  my  candles  were  burnt  out,  and  I  have  just  seen  Lady 


1818.] 


THE  HUMMER  OIRGUTT. 


361 


Staunton  into  the  convent,  when  I  urn  obliged  to  act  off  with  a 
party  to  dine  with  a  squire  in  the  country.  And  where  is 
Qeorge  all  this  while?  He  is  gone  into  Wales.  We  rode 
together  from  ShreAvsbury  to  this  place,  which  from  the  heat, 
reminded  him  of  hunting  the  Pindurries.  On  Wednesday  he 
had  the  distinguished  honor  oi-'  <lining  with  the  Oxford  circuit. 
I  cclebratc<l  the  evont  by  prertenting  to  the  (circuit  n  dozen  of 
claret,  and  all  parties  were  nuK^h  gnitifioil.  llt^  has  embraced 
this  opportunity  of  taking  a  i>eep  into  Waloi,  and  he  joins  u» 
again  at  Monmouth.  The  busincHs  begins  at  Gloutnxster  on  the 
13th,  and  will  probably  last  rather  more  than  a  week.  Thence 
not  a  moment  shall  bo  lost  in  s{)ceding  to  Fife.  We  must 
necessarily  return  to  London,  where  I  shall  l)e  detained  for  a 
day  or  two.  But  my  impatience  to  meet  quite  cc|uals  youre,  and 
eveiy  object  shall  be  sacrificed  that  might  interfere  with  our 
wishes.  The  weather  continues  terribly  hot.  Croi)s  gcHxl, 
Harvest  far  advanced. 


QloncoBter,  August  14, 1818. 

My  deak  Fatiiek  : —  ...  I  suppose  George  has  mentioned 
to  you  the  scrape  we  have  got  into,  by  Garrow  not  arriving  here 
in  time  to  open  the  commission.  Such  a  thing  I  believe  has 
never  happened  since  circuits  were  established  in  England,  and 
what  the  result  will  be  it  is  impo.«sible  to  tell.  The  under-sheriff 
was  despatched  to  consult  the  Lord  Chancellor,  but  upon  thi* 
point  I  apprehend  his  lordshij)  will  feel  considerable  doubt.  My 
own  opinion  is  that  the  civil  causes  cannot  be  tried  at  all,  but 
the  gaol  delivery  may  proceed.  If  so,  our  stay  at  Gloucester 
will  be  very  little  protracted,  for  both  judges  will  set  themselves 
to  the  trial  of  prisoners.  It  is  only  from  the  apprehension  that 
our  visit  to  you  may  be  delayed  that  the  circumstance  gives  me 
any  personal  annoyance.  I  have  sixty-three  guineas  woiih  of 
briefs  lying  on  my  table,  and  the  trial  of  the  causes  is  to  me  a 
matter  of  indifference. 

I  was  in  such  a  bustle  at  Monmouth  that  I  saw  little  of 
George  till  Wednesday  evening  at  eight  o'clock,  when  the  busi- 

VOL  I.  16 


302 


LIFE  OF  IX)RD  OAMPRKI.I., 


[1818. 


ijcsH  finirtlicHl.  We  then  niountccl  our  honcn  (having  fwnt  off 
our  donivHtim  in  n  chaiHo  befon^)  and  hod  a  moHt  delightful  ride 
to  Gloucostor.  I  never  enjoyed  anything  more.  The  night  wa« 
dear,  the  moon  hIiouc  bright,  there  wa»  a  fresh  breeze,  and  we 
passed  through  the  far  famed  scenery  of  the  Wye.  We  reached 
Gloucester  a  little  l)efoi*e  (me,  an(>  found  that  the  judge  had  got 
here  only  a  few  minutes  l)efore  us.  This  was  no  great  matter 
of  surprise,  for  we  had  jmisscmI  him  on  the  road  where  it  was  as 
level  as  a  bowling  green,  going  with  his  four  horses  at  a  foot's 
pace,  and  he  did  not  pass  us  again  till  within  al)out  seven  miles 
of  Gloucester.  Whether  he  was  not  aware  of  the  necessity  of 
being  here  liefore  twelve  o'clock,  or  whether  he  had  gone  to  sleep, 
or  what  was  the  cause  of  his  dilatoriness,  I  am  whollv  at  a  Iosh 
to  explain.  He  might  have  left  Monmouth  an  hour  sooner, 
although  the  jury  in  a  («use  which  he  had  tried  were  still  locked 
up  to  cionsider  of  their  verdict,  as  their  venlict  might  have  Ikjcu 
taken  by  Holroyd.  Starting  when'  he  did,  he  might  with  ordi- 
nary diligence  have  got  in  by  half-past  eleven.  I  am  very  sorry 
for  it.  He  will  be  more  blamed  than  he  deserves,  Ikmuj^  obnox- 
ious to  the  Chancellor  and  not  generally  ))opular.  IJut  I  can 
testify  thnt  through  the  circuit  no  liian  could  possibly  be  more 
anxious  than  he  has  l)een  to  do  his  duty,  and  to  make  himself 
agreeable  to  all  who  approached  him.  The  response  cannot  be 
received  till  to-morrow  morning.  To-day  therefore  we  are  com- 
pletely dfticeuvris.  George  and  I  propose  taking  a  ride  to  Chel- 
tenham. ...  I  make  a  point  most  religiously  to  abstain  from 
everything  to  influence  his  choic(;  of  life.  The  anioi'  patrice  is 
much  stronger  in  him  than  in  that  renegade  your  second  son,  and 
I  should  not  be  greatly  surprised  were  he  to  marry  and  sit  down 
in  the  kingdom  of  Fife,  although  at  times  he  seems  capable  of 
better  things ! 


[The  Chancellor  determined  that  all  the  commissions  for  the 
county  and  for  the  city  of  Gloucester  must  be  renewed,  so  Greorge 
Campbell  went  down  to  Scotland  alone. — Ed.] 


1818.] 


VISIT  TO  HCt/rLANJi. 


863 


Tumpln,  AuguMt  21,  1^)8. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  When  you  reoeivo  this  I  tnwt 
that  George  \k  by  your  side.  The  hour  ho  lung  looked  forward 
to  huH  arriv(>d.  Muy  you  know  no  diHappointmcnt  in  the  hoiies 
you  have  formed,  and  may  you  long  be  happy  in  the  so<!icty  of 
filch  other.  It  in  a  cruel  blow  u))on  nte  that  I  do  not  witneen 
your  meeting.  However,  1  shall  be  with  you  before  you  are 
uwure  that  any  time  has  ela[>Hed.  We  certainly  commence  busi- 
iies»t  ut  Gloucester  on  Monday  Slst.  This  I  know  as  well  from 
the  (!lerk  of  assi/e  as  from  Gurrow's  marshal.  By  the  end  of 
the  week  I  shall  be  off  for  Cupar,  and  you  know  when  I  travel 
1  lose  no  time  on  the  way. 

[llo  spent  the  mouth  of  September  in  Scotland,  visiting  his 
tlither  and  making  a  tour  in  the  Highlands,  of  which  there  is  the 
following  notice  in  the  Autobiography. — Ed.]  : 

My  father,  my  brother,  three  of  my  sisters,  my  uncle  the 
minister  of  Ancrum  and  his  sons,  under  my  auspices,  travelled 
through  the  most  beautiful  parts  of  the  Highlands  of  Scotland. 
We  were  very  hospitably  entertained  by  the  Earl  of  Breadalbane 
at  Taymouth.  When  we  returned  home  it  was  market  day  at 
Cupar,  and  I  cannot  forget  my  father's  exultation  as  he  was 
driven  with  four  horses  through  the  crowded  streets  with  his 
sons  beside  him  in  what  he  considered  'a  grand  ovation.' 

November,  1818. 

My  dear  Father: —  .  .  .  The  new  Chief  Justice*  goes 
on  very  quietly.  I  called  on  Lady  Abbott  and  reminded  her 
of  my  predictions.  He  is  not  to  have  a  peei'age.  Poor  Ellen- 
borough  is  reduced  nearly  to  a  state  of  fatuity  and  is  dying  very 
fast.  Gibbs  retains  his  faculties  completely,  but  he  is  conlined 
to  a  sofa  and  is  gradually  wasting  away. 

Lord  Liverpool  pressed  the  chiefship  of  the  King's  Bench 


i 


'! 


*  Abbott,  afterwards  Lord  Tenterden. — Ed. 


UFE  OP  ijnUU  <:AMI>llKl.i..  [1819. 

upon  Shepherd,  tho  Attorncy-Gciicrol,  and  nioutiouod  to  him 
that  tho  nuiulwr  of  judges  tit  to  be  inoroiwed.  Thio  cannot  tx) 
before  the  meeting  of  Parliunient. 

Ministcra  say  the  Queen  hoti  died  on  tho  very  duy  they  witihed,* 
as  her  duuth  cuIIh  Purliunient  together  on  the  very  day  inteudtnl 
to  aHHeuble  it — tho  16th  uf  January.  The  Windiior  edtublitili- 
ment  is  to  be  immediately  reduced.  The  nation  will  save  above 
£200,000  tt  year  by  the  Queen'H  death.  Ministers,  apprehensive 
of  the  increased  numbera  of  the  OpiMwition,  seem  determined  to 
deprive  tliem  of  all  topics.  At  present  tliere  is  hardly  any 
measure  in  the  foreign  or  domestic  policy  of  the  oountiy  which 
can  be  complained  of. 

I  supiMXM)  Romilly's  death  caused  a  great  shock  even  with 
you.     I  never  felt  anything  so  much.f 


Stafford,  March  20,  1819. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  hope  George  is  by  this  time 
onoo  more  safely  lodged  under  the  paternal  roof.  From  his 
being  in  England  and  your  letters  being  addressed  to  him,  our 
oorrcspondeuce  has  met  with  some  little  interruption.  Let  us 
now  resume  it  and  keep  it  up  steadily  as  in  former  times.  I 
can  soy  with  the  gi-eutest  sincerity  that  it  has  proved  the  highest 
and  most  unmixed  satisfaction  I  have  known  through  life. 

Here  we  are  again  at  Staftbixl,  tlie  dullest  and  vilest  town  in 
all  England.  Cupar  is  a  magnificent  city  compai'ed  to  it,  and 
abounding  with  elegant  amusements.  However,  we  have  more 
prisoners  to  try  than  are  to  be  found  in  all  the  gaols  in  Scotland 
—considerably  above  one  hundred.  Do  you  remember  our 
meeting  the  circuit  at  Inverary,  where  they  had  to  try  two  boys 
for  petty  larceny  ?  Such  a  calendar  would  make  us  look  very 
black.  For  my  own  share  I  now  mind  Crown  business  very 
little.  I  have  not  had  a  client  hanged  for  many  a  day.  I  get 
into  the  civU  line,  which  is  more  genteel  and  more  profitable. 


*  Queen  Charlotte  died  November  17, 1818.— Ed. 
fSir  Samael  Bomilly  died  November  2, 1818.— Ed. 


1810.] 


AN  OVKRFI,()W   OK    BIWIMW. 


365 


George  will  toll  you  that  T  ^ct  mi  very  |ir(w|K>rotiMly  in  town. 
I  have  08  much  htiHiiii>N8  iim  I  (run  po^'r'ibly  find  timu  to  do.  The 
befit  fiymptom  I  have  lately  dirwovircd  in  being  taken  up  by  ray 
own  countrymen.  When  I  won  quite  oliacure  and  I'ricndlcM 
thoy  kept  entirely  aloof  fVom  me.  I  believe  I  might  uow  have 
buHin(>8H  at  the  bar  of  the  Houhc  of  jjords  if  I  were  t4i  lay 
myself  out  for  it,  but  it  w  almost  imcompatible  with  romroon 
law  praotiec. 


tiftlop,  llarob,  1819.    Half-put  Av«. 

My  dear  Brotheb  : —  ...  I  am  juHt  going  to  mount  my 
horse  for  Church  Stretton,  a  place  where  you  and  I  lay  a  night 
liwt  August.  All  our  men  are  gone  on  and  arc  making  holiday 
ut  Ludlow.  I  have  l)ccu  obliged  to  stay  beh*nd  to  answer  cases, 
having  been  close  at  work  since  half-past  ei);ht  this  morning. 
At  this  8|)ell  I  have  answerwl  eleven  (awes.  I  have  !)"*'n  /erj' 
hard  worked  here.  We  had  an  overflow  of  business.  On  Friday 
I  was  in  court  (Kx;upied  from  eight  in  the  morning  till  half-imst 
one  on  Saturday  morning.  I  had  then  to  sit  down  to  read  a 
brief  in  a  murder,  attende«l  with  very  conipliniteil  circumstances, 
which  I  hail  to  state  to  the  jury  at  eight  tb'-  une  morning.  I 
was  hardly  in  bed.     But  I  am  not  at  all  ktMK     d  up. 

I  am  not  in  good  spirits  alx)iit  my  oratorical  improvement.  I 
still  continue  very  nervous  and  flurrietl.  I  am  sometimes  pretty 
j;(KkI  when  I  get  into  a  jmssion,  but  in  the  cool  <leliberative  nar- 
nitive  style  I  ieel  my  defi(!iency.  However,  I  must  give  more 
Nitisfaction  to  othera  than  I  do  to  myself,  for  all  manner  of 
businesH  flows  in  upon  me.  I  shall  keep  in  mind  a  French 
iiiiixiin  I  was  tiuight  by  John  (Jray,  ' A  force  de /wf/cr  on  dcvicnt 
foi'f/eron,' — by  hamruering  yon  learn  to  hammer. 

I  yesterday  conducted  a  j)rosccution  for  a  robbery  in  the  house 
of  Robert  Walker,  of  High  Ercall,  i'arnier.  Several  of  his  farm- 
ing servants  were  examined  who,  from  their  superior  appearance 
as  well  as  their  dialect,  easily  discovered  themselves  to  be  Scotch- 
men.    The  prosecutor  sat  behind  me,  and  as  the  judge  was  sum- 


■  ;■ 


I.irK  OF    M)l(l)  CAMIMiKI.I.. 


[1HI9. 


miiig  u|»  1  turmil  rouiid  to  him  luiii  Huid, 'Mr.  VVul Iter,  you 
Mctii  to  liuvu  gut  ull  your  |>loiiglimt!n  from  HcotliinU.' 

W, — I'm  from  Hkoutluu'  mymsl'. 

C. — liidctil,  Irom  what  |Mirt? 

W. — From  Fife,  iiwr  Cu|Nir. 

C. — You  uro  not  a  hoii  of  Mr.  Wulkvr  of  Cumlogie? 

m— Troth  um  I. 

C — ii'ivvt  mv  your  huud. 

W, — How  do  you  wmie  to  ken  anything  ubnut  me? 

C. — I  am  the  Mon  of  Dr.  (.^awmel  of  Cupur. 

W. — Lord  Almighty  !     Whn  would  ha*  Uiought  that? 

We  hod  a  very  cordial  talk  about  our  Fife  friendH.  lie  farms 
700  ocreti  and  says  ho  in  thriving. 

My  gr(M>m  in  autually  at  tlio  door  with  my  honea  and  I  must 
start 


Temple,  April  7,  1819. 

My  dear  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  The  mottt  interesting  event  is 
thot  Dauncey  m  horn  de  nonfat.  He  grew  wonie  and  worwe,  and 
on  Monday  loHt,  at  Olouuetttcr,  he  wum  ho  ill  iw  to  l)c  obliged  to 
stop  in  the  middle  of  a  ^iiceeh  to  the  jury.  I  led  him  out  of 
court  and  conducted  him  to  \m  hxIgingH.  It  wus  a  sud  H|H!<tucle 
and  showH  how  worthier^  the  objc<!t  in  we  are  all  (t>ntending 
uliout.  I  should  have  rcj<»iccd  excettfiively  ut  hin  removal  by 
promotion,  but  I  caimot  feel  any  satinfaction  at  his  present  con- 
dition. I  never  expect  to  hcc  him  on  the  circuit  again.  He  is 
only  fifty-eight,  hu8  been  ex(!ecdingly  temperate,  ami  never  had 
the  smallest  touch  of  illncHS  Ixtfore,  aimtti  he  wiw  a  child.  He  is 
said  to  have  hurt  himself  by  long  footing  in  court.  Taunton 
will  suc(!ced  him  as  leader,  but  will  not  have  the  lead  in  the 
same  undisputed  manner.  If  Daunay  does  not  come  back,  I 
shall  be  sure  to  have  a  junior  brief  in  eveiy  c»use;  and  if 
Jervis,  Taunton,  and  Puller  should  be  retained  on  one  side,  I 
may  be  taken  to  lead  on  the  other. 

I  have  given  formal  notice  that  I  have  quittetl  the  quarter 
sessions,  after  which  I  may  not  return  any  more.     Situated  as  I 


1810.] 


qiiiiH  TiiK  qi'AicrKii  mumiuni. 


367 


ant,  both  in  titwn  »ntl  on  (bo  oircuit,  m!m»U>iw  vuii  nu  lunger  be 
liny  object  to  me. 

You  would  MM)  by  the  nuwH|Mi|H!rH  that  the  LanarkHhire  elec- 
tion (toinniittoe  in  |)o«tiMmed  to  the  20th.*  In  truth  I  (ear  it 
rimy  Im)  (^onHiilvrtHl  lut  at  an  end.  The  8(!ot<<h  JudgeH  have  dtH'id(  d 
Ml  many  voteK  uguiniit  \w  that  wu  have  no  ehaniM)  of  a  minority 
if  their  diMUMiouH  hIiouUI  bo  followed  by  the  Committee  of  the 
IIouHeof  CommouH,  and  I  have  lulviMed  that  the  {letition  Hhould 
Im)  dropfKHl.  I  ithould  have  Ixsen  very  glad  if  it  could  lumoHtly 
have  gone  on.  It  not  only  would  have  brought  me  a  good  deal 
of  money  and  {)erha[M  a  little  fame,  but  I  was  beginning  to  take 
oonHidcrublc  intcrcMt  in  tlie  investigation  it  rendered  ueceHSory 
into  the  law  and  antiquities  of  my  native  land — 

Hcotland,  my  auld  rMpeokit  milber  I 

Temple,  May  3, 1819. 

My  dkar  Father: —  .  .  .  The  Lanarkshire  Committee 
lasted  about  three-quarterH  of  an  hour.  Lonl  Archibald  gave 
us  notice  that  as  we  would  not  agree  to  certain  terms  of  com- 
promise which  he  proposed,  he  would  insist  upon  our  petition 
being  voted  frivolous  and  vexatious.  We  were  a  little  alarmed, 
but  we  made  out  such  a  strong  case  of  probable  cause  that  the 
application  was  abandoned. 

I  go  on  very  well  with  Chief  Justice  Abbott.  No  one  has 
any  occasion  to  quarrel  with  him.  He  gives  general  satisfaction. 
Ellcnborough's  departure  is  certainly  a  considerable  relief  to  mc. 
He  did  me  no  essential  injury,  but  he  often  made  my  life 
extremely  uncomfortable. 

Temple,  May  26, 1819. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  trust  the  first  sitting  is  now 
over,  and  that  Raeburn  has  transferred  to  his  canvas  some  por- 

* '  I  am  retained  as  counsel  for  Admiral  Cochrane  against  Lord  Archibald 
Hamilton  in  the  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons  on  the  Lanarkshire 
Election.  Every  vAte  is  contested,  and  we  shall  have  the  whole  county  up  in 
London.'— Letter  of  December  6, 1818. 


I'B' 


308 


I.irf.  or   l/>RD  OAMNIKI.I.. 


[1819. 


tinii  of  tilt)  ((nui*  1111(1  fln>  lii>  hiiM  liml  lN>forn  him.  You  talk  liku 
Ijiiily  Huiiilolph  of  '  lh«  |MM>r  rciiniiiin/  but  it  will  In*  the  fuult 
of  tilt*  nrtiHt  if  tho  |N>rtmit  \n  not  n  cnpitnl  pirturo.* 

Juna  Id,  Id  10     ThruD  c|U«rUr«  pMt  Iwtlvi. 

My  dkak  BiuyriiKH :— 1  mii  juNt  rvturiioti  from  a  ball  at  liOily 
OitlbrdV  liUfly  (}.  Im  ii  very  iNiiiitiful,  uniitiblu  iiikI  wull-brcd 
woiiiuii.  Mr.  Attorney  wiw  not  prt>M'nt,  iNjinx  onK»K''*l  ■»  lli*< 
ditH'har^i*  of  hii*  poWiii*  diitit-M  in  tin*  IIouhi'  of  CmnnionH.  .  .  . 
You  would  M>i<  Ihuinccy'H  dititli  in  th<<  iivwhimiirt.  JorviH  Hiiyii 
h«  Hhall  now  bu  hani  run.  Hut  for  nuniu  timu  ho  will  Ut  fucUe 
prinrffM.  Thcru  aix*  Hcviuid  appli«iitionN  for  riilk  )(ownH.  Then' 
Ih  not  th(!  ri'mott-Ht  iMMwibility  of  my  iMtin^;  includLtl,  nor  ii4  it 
deHirabli)  that  I  hhould,  but  I  am  vttr}'  often  a^kid  when  I  tini  Ut 
put  on  my  Hilk  k<)^'Ii>  >"**'  {*^  <*<»'  father  oliNcrveH  when  he  iM  lni)(ely 
delighUnl  with  anything)  '  I  inuMt  nay  the  ({ueMtion  tiekht*  mo 
very  mu<'h.* 

My  deproHHJon  «>f  Mpiriti*  prcMWHle*!  ehlefly,  I  bollftve,  from  a 
slight  derangement  of  health,  but  [  have  attundwl  moix>  to  my 
digestion,  and  I  am  conrtiderably  improved.  I  got  up  lM>tween  Hix 
and  seven  and  ride  iM'fon;  breakfiMt. 


Toinplo,  July  7,  1810.     Midnight. 

My  dear  Fatiiku  : —  ...  Having  told  you  that  it  i«  neither 
powiblc  nor  dcHirablv  that  I  should  havi;  a  silk  gown  U[M)n  thin 
tMiiwion,  I  pnx'cetl  to  amu.'H<  you  a  little  with  what  F  have  Ih'cii 
aI>out  uiH>n  thiti  Hubject.  Knowing  that  I  had  no  chunee  of  l)eing 
appoint(Hl,  I  had  not  the  moHt  di.itant  notion  of  applying.  How- 
ever [  have  been  spirited  up  to  put  in  my  elaim,  and  I  am  glad 
that  I  have  done  so.  I  met  with  a  great  deal  of  goneral  niillery 
uiK)n  the  8ubje(!t,  and  my  old  friends  and  fellow  pupils,  Tancretl 
and  Coltman,  insisted  with  me  in  gocxl  earnest  that  I  should  be 
fully  justifictl  in  applying,  and  that,  with  a  view  to  the  future,  I 


*  This  portrait  by  Raeburn  is  in  the  poHHoaeion  of  Sir  Oeorge  Campbell.   An 
excellent  copy  hung  in  the  dining-room  at  Stratheden  House. — Ed. 


1819.] 


APIM.K.'ATIOX    Kull    A    .<«II.K   (H>Wlf. 


369 


(Might  to  apply.    T\w  Ant  i»t«>p  wum  writing  to  Abbott;  m  tb^jr 
dictated  to  ni«  thu  following  letter,  aJdrowwd 

Tht  Bight  lionorablt  Lord  Chi^  Jmtie*  Ahbutt,  ,tc ,  Ruutlt  Squan, 

TampU,  Jttlj  3, 1819. 

Mr  LoBDi—  .  ,  .  Th«  kkmlniM  I  lt«v*  aiiivrianctii  from  your  Lordahip, 
both  b«for«  kn<l  linvn  your  iiUv»tton,  oucouritt(n»  ma  to  hop*  thai  you  will 
•icu««  th«  trouble  I  am  now  giving  you  with  roipaut  to  a  itap  the  mont  import- 
ant in  my  profcMJonal  life 

It  ii  «ugg«it«(i  to  ma  hy  HAVAral  frinndi  at  tha  bar,  to  whoaa  Ju>lKmitDt  I 
hava  b««n  accuRtumed  to  dut'ar,  'bat  under  thu  priwent  oiroumitanomi  of  tha 
Uiford  Circuit  I  ought  not  to  omit  bringing  my  name  to  the  notinu  of  tha 
Lord  Chancellor  an  a  camlidato  for  prufninionnl  rank.  Although  my  buiinoaa 
for  the  la«)t  two  or  three  rlrnuitu  ha*  bnnn  luch  a«  pi'rhap*  to  juntify  in>*  in 
looking  forward  to  future  advannnment,  yet  I  am  onnicioni  that  thnre  ara 
other  gentlemen  who  have  more  immediate  rlaimn,  and  [  do  not  entertain  A 
very  languine  ho|)e  of  gaining  my  objoul  at  llio  pruHunt  moment;  but  I  truak 
that  if  I  ihould  not  now  Kuccood,  t)ie  circumHlance  of  my  {irofeMional  eitua- 
tion  being  at  proHent  mado  known  to  hi^  linrdNhi|>  may  have  a  favorabU 
tendency  hervaftur,  and  I  venture  to  indulge  a  hope  that  your  LnrdNhip  will 
not  diiapprove  of  the  monKura  which  I  propone  to  adopt. 

I  cannot  eipuot  more  from  your  Lordiihip  than  that,  if  the  Lord  Chancelloir 
ibould  refer  to  you  for  information  roHpuuting  mo,  your  Lordxhip  iihould  rep- 
ruont  mo  ai  not  unworthy  of  the  diMtinotion  to  which  I  aNpiro  when  tha 
proper  nccanion  arino«  I  remain,  your  Iiord»hip'«  mont  obliged  and  faithful 
•ervant, 

J.  C. 


This  letter  wiw  sent  on  Satunluy.  Going  to  the  Court  of 
King's  Bench  on  Monday  morning  ruthcr  later  than  usual,  I  found 
the  Chief  JuHtiiHi  hud  Ihhux  inquiring  for  me.  Ah  he  woh  engagtnl 
in  a  cause  likely  to  detain  him  lute  in  the  evening,  I  wrote 
him  a  note  wiping  I  nhould  Im>  down  next  morning  l)efore 
the  sitting  of  the  court,  if  he  .should  wish  to  see  me. 
At  half-post  nine  on  Tuesday  morning  I  was  standing  among 
above  a  dozen  burristcrs  in  the  coffee-house  M'here  we  assemble, 
when  Abbott's  gentlemun  came  in  and  said,  *  My  Lord  Chief 
Justice  wishes  to  see  Mr.  Cumpbell  in  his  private  chamber.' 
His  reception  of  me  was  very  friendly.  He  said,  *I  wish 
you  well,  but  ft'om   having  so   many  seniors   on  the  oircuit 


370 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1819. 


who  have  applied,  I  think  you  are  not  likely  to  Hucvced  at  pres- 
ent. Mai^kurncHS,  Pcake,  Taunton  and  Puller  have  all  applied. 
I  therefore  hardly  sec  how  you  can  be  appointal  now.  But  there 
is  no  reason  why  you  should  not  make  the  application  and  it 
may  be  of  service  to  you  lureaftcr  to  have  your  pretensions 
known.  What  the  Chancellor  metuis  to  do  I  really  know  not. 
Although  Chief  Justice  of  the  court,  and  formerly  upon  the 
Oxford  circuit,  he  has  not  yet  mentioned  the  subject  to  me.  I 
suppose  he  has  forgot  it,  but  I  take  it  for  grantal  that  he  will 
speak  to  me  about  it  soon.  With  so  many  seniors,  I  think  you 
must  not  exjHKit  to  be  includeil  now,  but  it  nuiy  be  useful  that 
your  name  should  be  mentioned.' 

Campbell.  'That  is  all  I  expect,  and  having  your  lordship's 
sanction  I  will  certainly  make  the  application.'  So  we  shook 
hands  and  parted. 

In  the  evening  the  folic  < -g  letter  was  composed  in  a  Cabinet 
Council : 


To  the  Lord  Chancellor,  Bedford  Square ; 

My  Lord  : — Having  learnt  that  several  applications  have  been  lately  made 
to  your  Lordship  for  rank  on  the  Oxford  Circuit,  I  beg  permission  to  present 
myself  to  your  notice  as  being  likowiRO  a  candidate  for  that  high  distinction. 

I  venture  to  address  your  Lordship  on  this  occasion  with  great  diffidence, 
but  not  without  the  hope  that  upon  inquiry  your  Lordflhip  might  find  my 
professional  situation  upon  the  circuit,  and  in  London,  such  as  in  some  degree 
to  afford  an  excuse  for  my  pretensions. 

I  will  only  add  that  1  have  not  taken  this  ntep  without  the  sanction  of  the 
Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  and  that  I  have  reason  to 
hope  ho  would  represent  me  as  not  unworthy  of  the  honor  to  which  I  aspire 
when  the  proper  occasion  arises.  Your  Lordship's  most  obedient  and  very 
humble  servant, 

J.C. 


Audacter  et  apert^  met  his  Lordship's  eye  this  morning  at 
breakfast,  and  introduced  to  him  this  elegant  composition.  No 
answer  is  returned  to  the.se  applications  unless  they  are  success- 
ful, and  I  have  very  little  api)rehen.sion  that  he  will  punish  my 
presumption  by  granting  my  request.     But  I  think  I  have  been 


1819.] 


APPLICATION    FOK  A   SlMv   (iOUN. 


371 


well  advised.  There  in  a  sort  of  iutermodiate  rank  betwecu  silk 
and  stuff*,  of  aspirant*,  in  which  I  am  eiirolleil.  Considering 
the  disadvantages  I  have  had  to  .struggle  against,  it  is  no  small 
matter  for  me,  at  my  standing,  to  have  applied  to  the  Lord 
Chancellor  for  a  silk  gown,  with  the  entire  approbation  of  the 
Lord  Chief  Justice.  1  may  now  rwikoii  that  instead  of  a  veto  I 
have  a  jiai  for  promotion  when  my  turn  comes,  and  with  that  I 
am  contented.  I  wonder  what  Ellenborough  would  have  said 
had  I  called  upon  him  about  a  silk  gown.  Yet  I  don't  know. 
I  had  subdued  him  into  some  respect  for  me.  I  stand  as  well 
as  can  be  now  with  all  the  judges,  and  I  have  no  reason  to  fear 
that  my  claims  will  not  be  fairly  attended  to.  I  have  been  par- 
ticularly gratified  with  the  feelings  expressed  by  my  brother 
barristers  When  my  promotio:i  does  come  I  really  believe  it 
will  give  general  satisfaction. 

I  have  sat  up  scribbling  to  you  when  I  was  tired  and  sleepy. 
And  upon  my  honor  it  appears  to  me  quite  doubtful  whether  I 
am  dreaming  or  awake.  This  application  about  a  silk  gown  is 
mighty  like  a  confused  dream  I  have  had,  and  I  should  not  at 
all  be  surprised  to  awake  in  the  morning  and  find  the  whole  a 
delusion  of  the  night.     Adieu. 


I    !'f 


'I- 


Temple,  July  21,1819. 

My  dear  Father: —  ...  I  i-ead  with  great  interest  and 
delight  your  account  of  receiving  the  news  of  my  application  to 
the  Chancellor.  But  this  is  nothing  to  George  buying  Tarvot 
Mill,  on  which  I  most  fervently  congnitulate  you.  I  really  con- 
sider it  a  happy  event  for  him  and  us  all.  As  you  conductetl 
the  negotiation,  I  make  no  doubt  the  terms  are  moderate  and 
reasonable.  You  have  only  now  to  make  him  build  a  house  and 
marry  a  wife,  and  your  fondest  wishes  for  him  are  fulfilled 

The  Oxford  circuit  is  begun — and  no  silk.  The  Chancellor 
doubts !  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  that  for  some  time  things  should 
remain  as  they  are. 


[Extract  from  Autobiography] ; 


872 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1819. 


During  the  autumn  I  joined  my  brother  in  Paris,  and  wc 
paased  some  weeks  t(^ther  very  agreeably.  I  now  paid  a  good 
deal  of  attention  to  the  administration  of  justice  in  France,  and 
was  frequently  present  at  criminal  trials  before  the  Cour  Koyaln. 
After  much  deliberation,  I  made  up  my  mind  against  the  French 
practice  of  interrogating  the  accused,  which  at  first  sight  scorns  m 
plausible,  and  in  defence  of  wh  ich  grave  arguments  may  be  add  uccd . 
I  was  decided  against  it  chiefly  by  considering  the  advantage 
it  gives  to  quickness  and  experience,  the  danger  of  a  jury  being 
misled  by  the  answers  of  a  man  of  irregular  life,  though  inno- 
cent of  the  particular  charge,  and  the  manner  ir  which  the  prac- 
tice brings  the  judge  into  collision  with  the  accused,  making  him 
appear  and  sometimes  feel  like  an  advocate  eager  for  victory.  T 
have  seen  a  practiced  thief  get  himself  off  by  a  ready  answer; 
I  have  known  men  convicted  by  the  improbable  lies  which  they 
told  to  account  for  their  being  in  suspicious  situations,  without 
evidence  to  support  the  particular  charge;  and  I  have  observed 
M.  le  President,  much  irritated  by  a  sparring  dialogue  with 
the  prisoner,  betraying  a  partisan  warmth  which  in  England 
would  be  reckoned  very  indecorous  in  the  counsel  for  the  prose 
cution. 

I  studied  attentively  the  'Code  Napol6on,'  now  called  the 
'  Code  Civil,'  and  found  it  a  most  admirable  outline  of  French 
law,  invaluable  as  establishing  the  same  system  in  all  the  pro 
vinces  of  the  monarchy,  and  I  think  without  any  fault  in  its 
principles,  except  the  restraint  on  the  testamentary  poMcr,  and 
its  rigid  equal  partibility  of  the  fathei''s  property  ainong  all  tiio 
children.  But  it  is  wholly  insufficient  to  solve  the  vast  majority 
of  questions  coming  before  the  tribunals.  Joseph  Hume  and 
other  such  ignorant  coxcombs  think  that  the  whole  law  of  Eng- 
land might  be  comprised  in  an  octavo  volume,  and  that  all  other 
books  connected  with  the  law  might  be  burned.  Were  he  to 
attend  in  the  Palais  de  Justice,  he  would  find  the  atlvocates  and 
judges,  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty,  necessarily  referring  to  the 
Civil  Law,  to  the  droit  coutumiev  before  the  Revolution,  to  the 
works  of  Dagueaseau  and   Pothier,  and  to  a   body  of  recent 


1819.] 


LAW  COURTS  IN  PARIS. 


373 


decided  cases  little  less  bulky  than  the  Reports  which  load  the 
Hhelves  of  an  English  lawyer. 

I  was  very  courteously  received  by  the  advocates  and  judges 
when  I  stated  that  I  was  a  member  of  the  English  bu*.  I 
euvied  them  their  black  toque,  a  much  more  convenient  and 
Imudsome  headdress  than  our  horsehair  periwig ;  but  compariu;; 
uotos  ujion  the  interesting  subject  of  fees,  I  saw  great  reason  to 
be  contented.  They  were  astonished  at  the  salaries  of  our  judges, 
and  intimated  an  opinion  that  the  office  of  Chief  Justice  must 
be  scrambled  for  among  all  the  adherents  of  the  Ministers.  When 
they  laughed,  not  without  reason,  at  our  strictness  in  excluding 
all  hearsay  evidence,  I  retorted  by  pointing  out  the  injustice  of 
their  practice  in  allowing  all  sorts  of  evidence  of  bad  character, 
and  of  former  alleged  offences,  to  be  adduced  against  the  accused, 
to  show  the  probability  of  his  being  guilty  of  the  charge  on 
which  he  is  tried. 

Temple,  October  4, 1819. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that 
George  and  I  landed  safely  at  Dover  yesterday  evening. 

.  ..  .  We  had  a  most  delightful  trip.  George  will  amuse  you 
with  a  more  detailed  account  of  our  travels.  .  .  . 

I  suppose  he  will  be  with  you  in  ten  days  or  a  fortnight.  I 
am  better  pleaactl  that  he  did  not  cross  the  Alps  or  wander  by 
himself  into  Germany.  I  make  no  doubt  of  his  finding  him- 
self very  happy  at  Edcnwood.  From  his  feelings  and  attach- 
ments, I  am  convinced  that  this  is  the  best  course  he  could  pur- 
sue. You  must  immediately  get  the  estate  enfranchised  by 
Count  Wemyss  and,  being  ordained  a  ruling  elder  and  being  put 
into  the  commission  of  the  peace,  he  will  be  a  country  gentle- 
man of  no  small  note. 


1  r, 


,    I 


^'!'l' 


1 1 


'iii 


n\ 


I 


rt'H; 


Nil. 


iiil 


874 


l.ll'K  UF  lX)ltl>  CAMPBELL. 


[1820. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Jamuart,  1820— Deobmbkb,  1821. 

Gives  a  Dinner  Party — Inscription  for  Edenwood — Dines  with  Mr.  Scarlett — 
Question  of  Royal  Divorce — Finds  tho  Course  of  True  Love  does  not  run 
Smooth— Ride  Round  tho  Regenfu  Turk— Eton  Montom— His  Suit  in  not 
SuccoBsful- Letters  from  tho  Circuit — The  Queen's  Trial — Qooh  in  the 
Long  Vacation  to  Paris — Becomes  a  Candidate  for  Brooks's — Bill  Against 
the  Queen  Withdrawn — Dull  Christinus  Holidays — Studies  Italian — 
Holds  Briefs  for  Mr.  Scarlett — Brougham,  Donman  and  Queen  Caroline 
—Engagement  to  Miss  Scarlett — Letter  from  Dr.  Campbell  to  Miss  Scar- 
lett— Coronation  of  King  George  IV. — Dinner  at  Mr.  Scarlett's  to  meet 
the  Duke  of  Gloucester — Arrangements  for  the  Wedding  at  Abinger — 
Wedding  Tour — Settles  in  Duke  Street,  Westminster. 


Temple,  January  4, 1820. 

My  dear  Brother: —  .  .  .  I  uin  rather  surprised  that  I 
have  not  heard  from  our  father.  He  is  the  beau  idial  of  a  good 
correspondent,  for  he  is  not  only  veiy  punctual,  but  he  never 
writes  a  line  which  is  not  agreeable  and  interesting.  I  cannot 
express  to  you  the  pleasure  I  feel  when  a  letter  iiddresscd  in  his 
hand  is  delivered  to  me,  and  the  delightful  anticipation  is  always 
realized. 

I  have  been  ex(!eedingly  dull  during  the  holiday.s.  On  Now 
Year's  Day  I  dined  at  Copley's—  -the  only  gay  party  at  which  I 
have  assisted.  I  rallied  him  about  his  conduct  with  former  free- 
dom, and  he  retains  his  former  good  humor. 

Copley  told  me  in  confidence  that  the  only  thing  Ministci-s 
are  afraid  of  is  the  divorce.  Leach,  to  push  out  I^ord  Eldon 
and  get  the  seals,  urges  the  measure  upon  the  Regent  with  the 
greatest  earnestness,  and  will  sec  no  difficulties  in  the  way.  All 
the  Ministers,  and  particularly  the  Chancellor,  resist  it  as  much 
as  possible,  thinking  it  may  excite  a  flame  in  the  country  the 


1820.] 


DINNER  PARTY  IN  CHAMBERS. 


376 


vonMiquenceH  of  whitih  uunnot  be  foreseen,  and  that  it  would 
materially  cndungcr  the  Htubility  of  the  AdniiniHtration.  But 
then  they  ore  afraid  to  vrotm  tlie  Regent  about  it  too  mueh,  as  he 
might  send  for  the  OpjMMition,  who  would  probably  agree  to 
carry  through  the  raetiHure  as  the  price  of  being  brought  into 
office.  If  the  Radicals  remain  quiet,  I  rather  believe  that  the 
matter  will  come  forward  when  Parliament  meets.  There  have 
been  agents  i'6v  some  time  employed  in  Italy  to  collect  evidence, 
and  it  is  all  cut  and  dried.  The  shape  will  be  a  bill  to  dissolve 
the  marriage. 

...  I  am  very  sorry  that,  from  several  cross  accidents,  I  have 
not  yet  lieen  al)le  to  take  Lindsay  and  Magdalen  to  the  play. 
We  had  a  very  ]>leasant  party  on  Christmas  day — D.  Wilkie 
present.  He  is  amazingly  improved  in  manner  and  faculty  of 
talk ;  indeed,  he  is  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  agreeable 
men  I  ever  met.  He  says  that  the  first  picture  he  ever  saw 
which  impressed  him  with  an  idea  of  the  power  and  dignity  of 
the  art  was  a  portrait  of  one  of  the  lairds  of  Carslogie,  which 
he  saw  when  he  visited  us  in  his  boyhood. 

Sunday,  January  16, 1820. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  The  plan  for  new  modelling  the 
administration  of  the  common  law  at  present  is  to  have  a  fifth 
judge  in  the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  one  of  the  puisnes  to  act 
in  rotation  as  a  sort  of  Lord  Ordinary,  and  after  term  to  have 
two  judges  of  King's  Bench  sitting  to  try  causes  by  jury  at  the 
same  time,  in  separate  places.  Then  there  is  to  be  a  third  circuit 
for  the  trial  of  criminals  in  the  month  of  December.  I  hope  I 
shall  be  able  to  pick  up  bread  and  cheese  in  the  scramble,  but  I 
should  have  been  better  pleased  had  there  been  no  change.  I 
shall  hear  more  of  it  to-day,  as  I  am  to  dine  at  Scarlett's,  there 
to  meet  the  Chief  Justice. 

My  grand  dinner  party  yesterday  went  off  with  great  iclat, 
and  I  rather  expect  to  see  an  account  of  it  in  the  '  Morning 
Post.'  I  am  sure  Jess  would  like  to  know  what  we  had  for 
dinner — 


III 


« 


*pi 


I  i!l!S 


;i  '■ 


876  LIFK  OF   I.011I)  CAMl'lJELL. 

Firit  Cnune. 

Cod'i  Head  and  Shouldan. 

Potatoei. 

Boiled  Rice. 

Mulligatawny  tioap. 

Second  Oourie. 
V«getabl«a.  Boiled  Turkeyi  and  Celery  Sauce. 

Pig'i  Feet  and  Ears.  Tongue.  Fricandeau. 

(I  forgot.) 
Vegetables.  Saddle  of  Mutton. 


[1820. 


Vegetable!. 


Sweet. 


Vegetables. 

Third  Course. 
Four  Roast  Woodcocks. 

Sweet. 
Sweet. 
Sweet. 
Sweet.  Sweet. 

*  Wildfowl. 

Dessert. 
All  manner  of  Fruits,  &i. 

t 

Wmet. 

Burgundy — Champagne,  white  and  rosy — Hermitage,  red  and  white — 

Constantift—Sautorne— Madeira— Port. 

Dinner  was  put  down  on  the  table  at  half-past  six.  We  con- 
tinued drinking  till  past  one.  We  then  had  coifee,  tea,  and 
liqueurs,  and  broke  up  between  two  and  three. 

...  I  must  go  and  make  some  calls,  and  tiy  if  I  can  pick  up 
any  topics  of  convei-sation  for  the  dinner  T  am  going  to.  *  Ivanhoe ' 
is  quite  exhausted. 

.lanuary  10, 1820. 

My  dear  Brother: —  ...  I  am  impatient  to  hear  that  the 
foundation  of  Edenwood  House  has  been  laid.  I  am  more  and 
more  in  love  with  the  name.  Did  you  ever  meet  with  the 
writings  of  J.  Johnston,  one  of  our  Scottish  poets,  who  flourished 
in  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  ?  In  celebrating 
Cupar  he  has  two  lines  very  descriptive  of  your  plaoe,  and  even 
of  the  name  you  have  given  it — 


1820.] 


DIVES  VriTH  MR.  80ARLBTT. 


577 


Arva  inter,  vimoriiquc  ombrai  et  pateua  lata 
litntflutni  vitrei*  Inbitur  EoKif  aquie. 

I  met  with  them  a  long  while  ago  in  Camden's  '  Britannia.'* 
J.  Johnston'H  poems  I  never  wiw  exct^pt  in  the  'Delicire  Poetarum 
Scotorum,'  where  tlien?  are  a  g<)<Kl  ninny  of  his,  a»  well  as  of 
Arthur  Johnston's.  You  may  inscrilw  the  linw*  in  n  summer- 
house  overhanging  the  river. 

Eleven  at  night. — A  plcoMmt  |Mirty  ut  Snu'lettV.  The  Chief 
.Iu8tice,t  Mr.  Justice  Bayley,  the  Solicitor-Gt'nc'rul,^  Jke.,  <feo. 
We  had  a  g(KKl  deal  of  smart  politiftil  raillery  hetwt^tui  S<'arlett 
and  Mr.  Solicitor.  Much  talk  about  the  chuuf^cs  in  the  Court 
of  King's  Bench.  Nothing  nt  all  determinwl  upon.  The 
Attorney  and  Solicitor-Generals  are  employed  in  fniming  a  Bill, 
but  they  know  not  what  it  is  to  contain — even  wlmn  brought 
into  the  House.  This  matter  has  liccome  of  very  small  comjiar- 
ative  importance,  for  the  divorce  is  certainly  (toming  forward ; 
Copley  told  me  so.  They  have  lx!en  employed  in  examining  the 
indictment  and  procee<lings  against  Anne  Boleyn.  The  witnesses 
are  all  Italian  or  German.  They  s[K>ak  to  ten  times  more  than 
is  necessary  to  [n'ovc  the  Princess's  guilt.  But  there  is  some 
ai^prcluuision  whether,  in  the  prejudices  which  msiy  arise  against 
the  Prince,  their  testimony  may  be  cr(Klit(Kl.  No  great  oj)po8i- 
tion  is  exiKHjted  in  the  Lords.  Lord  Lauderdale  will  probably 
support  the  measure,  and  Loi-d  liansdownc.  Lord  H«>lland,  and 
the  Whigs  will  not  like  to  give  j>ersonal  offence  to  the  Prince, 
The  Duke  of  Kcat  may  make  against  it,  lest  he  should  be  cut 
out  of  the  succession  to  the  Crown.  But  a  terrible  temiiest  ia 
expected  in  the  Commons,  and  Ministers  look  forward  to  the 
event  with  dismay.  Leach  urges  the  proceeding  with  intem- 
perate eagerness.  Copley  says  he  displays  the  most  profound 
ignorance  with  respect  to  all  the  law  and  history  connected  with 
the  subject.  He  and  others  speculate  upon  the  divorce  as  the 
means  of  political  aggitrndizement,  in  the  same  manner  as  wa» 


*  Cam  Jen's  Britannia,  vol.  ii.  p.  1235,  2d  edition, 
t  Abbott. 
t  Copley. 


VOTi.  I. 


le" 


t';  '  I ' 

■■!!''■ 


.,.Hr:-!'li 


liill 


n78 


Lira  or  LORD  OAMPBEIX. 


[1820. 

done  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  The  great  object  \n  U^  nhut 
out  the  Prinooss  from  tlie  opportunity  to  recriminate,  which  w 
always  permitted  in  private  divorces  in  the  Englinh  Eoolesiaflti- 
cal  Courts ;  that  iH  to  say,  if  n  man  huos  for  a  divorce  in  Doctors' 
Commons,  on  the  ground  of  adultery  of  his  wife,  proof  by  her 
that  he  has  l)een  guilty  of  adultery  is  an  answer  to  the  suit. 
They  mean  to  contend  that  this  is  a  mere  matter  of  State,  not  to 
be  regulated  by  common  legal  analogies.  It  is  cxiM>cted  that  a 
message  from  the  Regent  will  be  brought  down  the  first  day  uf 
the  meeting  of  Parliament.  The  Bill  will  begin  in  the  I^rdH. 
Copley  brought  me  to  the  Temple  in  his  carriage  and  told  me  all 
this. 

I  sat  at  dinner  next  Mm  Scarlett,  and  St-arlett  huh  invited  me 
to  sjiend  some  days  with  him  at  his  country  house  at  Easter. 
What  say  you  to  that  ?  Very  small  accidents  may  ut  present 
determine  my  subsequent  history.  I  am  in  such  a  humor  for 
gossip  that  I  am  sorry  my  pai)er  is. done.  I  had  a  ctmiplimcnt 
from  the  Chief  Justice  on  the  elegance  of  my  entertainment, 
according  to  the  account  of  his  son.     Adieu. 

Coffee  llawfi,  WoHtininotor  Hall,  February  2, 1820. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  I  hud  great  pleasure  in  your 
letter,  which  I  reoeive<l  yestenlay.  The  affair  you  refer  to  1  fear 
rather  languishes  for  want  of  opportunities.  However  it  is  still 
upon  the  cards.  If  the  lady  could  Ik;  prevailed  upon,  I  do  not 
believe  that  any  opposition  would  l)c  made  by  her  family.  But 
the  acquaintance  between  us  is  so  sliglil,  imd  I  see  so  little  pros- 
pect of  an  increasing  intimacy,  that  the  prcject  may  insensibly 
die  away.  Much  might  be  done  at  Eustcr  if  I  were  to  be  a  day 
or  two  under  the  same  roof,  but  from  the  clashing  of  circuit  and 
term,  and  the  general  election,  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  this 
visit  will  take  place.  In  the  meantime  Mrs.  Scarlett  gives  Con- 
versations on  the  Wednesday  evenings.  I  was  there  last  W«l- 
nesday  evening,  and  have  an  invitation  for  next  Wednesday 
evening,  but  none  for  to-night. 

I  am  fully  resolved  to  do  something  to  change  my  present 


1820.] 


PltOBAUl.K  CIIANUK  OF   MINIHTRIW. 


370 


situation,  of  which  I  uni  hrartily  tired.  Tf  I  ««  no  wcll- 
groiindod  hopo  of  ninrriugc  to  my  mind,  I  will  fp  into  the 
floum  of  CommonM  at  every  rink.  They  now  my  thnt  Parlia- 
ment in  not  to  Ixi  iliiMolvcd  till  the  lx>(j;inniu({  of  April. 

It  iH  undofHtiMKl  that  the  divon;**  Ih  drop)>ed,  that  u  He|Mimte 
provision  in  to  l)e  made  for  Queen  Caroline,  and  that  nhe  will 
agre<i  to  live  quietly  abroad.  Drougham  i«  to  I*  her  Attorney- 
General.  If  thiH  Ix)  HO,  he  will  wear  u  silk  gown  and  nit  within 
the  bor.* 

Court  of  Kin(('it  Bench,  February  1»,  1820. 

My  dear  Father: — I  have  been  expecting  to  hear  from 
you  every  day  for  a  week,  and  ho{)e  I  Hhall  when  my  Hervant 
brings  down  my  letters  this  morning.  In  the  meantime  Raine 
has  given  me  a  frank.  I  told  him  my  object  was  to  inform  you 
that  I  was  not  yet  Solicitor-General,  as  the  King  has  agreed  to 
keep  his  present  Ministers.  There  certainly  was  for  a  day  or 
two  considerable  chance  of  a  change.  The  King  did  express  his 
determination  to  bring  forward  the  divorce,  and  Ministers 
declared  to  him  that  in  that  case  they  would  resign.  He  has 
yielded,  but  there  will  not  be  much  cordiality  for  the  future 
l)etween  the  parties.  Lord  Wellesley  was  sent  for,  and  had  the 
offer  to  form  a  new  administration,  giving  a  pledge  to  carry  the 
divorce,  but  he  said  that,  after  the  refusal  of  the  present  men, 
the  thing  could  not  be  done.  Leach  the  Vice-Chancel  lor  is  at 
the  bottom  of  the  plot.  He  has  been  urging  on  the  divoi'ce  for 
several  years  with  a  view  to  make  himself  Chancellor.  Lord 
Eldon  has  been  particularly  hostile  to  the  measure  from  private 
as  well  as  public  reasons. 

They  say  the  King  is  in  a  state  of  complete  distraction  al>out 
this  matter,  and  it  is  apprehended  that  it  will  soon  cost  him  his 
Henses  or  his  life.  There  in  no  doubt  that  he  is  in  a  very  bad 
state  of  health.  He  has  not  yet  l)een  able  to  sign  the  patents  of 
Jervis  and  three  other  men  at  the  bar,  who  had  patents  of  pre- 
cedence from  the  late  King.     They  are  therefore  all  still  with- 


I 


I  I 


i  i 


) 


:'ti,i 


:,■    ,i    I 


1  '  U 

■fm 
■  I" 

■■:■    It-? 
■      in 


M 


*  George  III.  had  died  January  29,  1820.— Ed. 


•'■■! 


H- 


'  m 


3S0 


UrK  or  LORD  CAMPBKI.L. 


[1820. 


out  the  bar  in  itulT  i^wns.  A  gi«py  a  Rrightoi),  m)mo  ynin 
»{go,  prophcMiud  that  h«  would  bo  pruuluiiiKil  King  but  iii!v«>r 
would  bo  «rownod.  Ho  htm  frequently  ullmlud  of  luto  to  tho 
prophecy  and,  liko  othcn  of  tho  Ninio  Mort,  it  may  contribute  to 
iU  own  fulHImont. 

Tompis,  M»rvh  4,  IH20 

Deau  (Jkokok: —  ...  I  very  much  four  that  n\x  month« 
will  cla|Mo  without  'any  blow  being  Htruck.'  Thingn  ani  again 
in  a  moHt  languishing  condition.  ...  I  have  liccn  exceedingly 
unhappy  during  thu  wci>k,  and  often  wished  that  the  projct^t  hnd 
never  been  cntertaim>d.  I  novor  started  on  tho  circuit  in  Hueh  a 
depretwod  fltato  of  mind. 

I  have  had  two  otTora  through  CarHtnirH,  and  one  from  another 
quarter,  to  come  into  Parliament  for  ab<mt  X30U0.  But  I  have 
declined  them  all.  Hhould  my  matrimonial  M'hemen  thrive,  I 
could  neither  afford,  nor  should  1  wish,  to  be  in  the  1Ioum>. 
From  what  I  privately  hear  I  believe  tho  Htate  of  tho  King'H 
health  to  l)o  extremely  precarious. 

Did  you  not  cry  over  LonI  ErHkine'a  8ix?coh  at  Edinhnrgh,  and 
think  what  a  contract  there  wiw  between  hif)  feelingH  and  thoHo 
of  your  brother  ?  Remember  ul  ways  however  that  he  was  aliHent 
from  S(M)tland  above  fifly  years.  His  son  Tom  has  written  to 
desire  him  to  ciill  on  our  father  as  he  goes  to  8t.  Andrews. 

Write  me  a  few  lines  on  tho  cirtJtiit  soon  after  receiving  this. 
I  suppose  my  briefs  will  soon  absorb  my  attention,  but  at  this 
moment  I  am  exceedingly  wretched.  But  in  your  friendship  I 
have  a  constant  source  of  consolation. 


Temple,  ThurHday  night,  May  4,  1H20. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  I  have  made  hardly  any  visits 
since  my  return  to  town.  I  was  at  a  pai-ty  at  Mrs.  Scarlett's 
last  Saturday  night — very  crowded  and  brilliant.  Lord  Erskiue 
showetl  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude.  I  wished  to  have  heard 
him  upon  St.  Andrews,  but  he  would  talk  of  nothing  but  Bur^ 
dett  and  the  law  of  libel. 


1820.] 


rALLI  IN  !/>¥■. 


Ml 


I  told  yuii  that '  thi*  •fTiiir '  hml  nearly  diod  awny.  .  .  Tan* 
itrtNl  (the  wurtliicHt  of  iiini)  hail  givrn  mo  tho  same  lulvicft  with 
you,  to  hold  lioi^k  and  lot  tho  thlii};  drop,  unlcm  them  won  diNtliint 
cnoouraKornont  from  tho  other  Hido.  (^>ltinnn,  he  and  I  have  all 
boon  unfortunate  in  love,  although  happy  in  friendship.  Tancred 
linn  met  with  more  rehutfs  than  either.  Hut  there  might  Iw  an 
entertaining  volume  mode  up  of  the  '  rojoetc<l  oddretwex/  of  the 
three. 

AImI  for  ftU  thikt  I  hkva  aver  r««J, 

Or  aver  htard  in  talc  or  hintory, 

Th«  count  of  true  love  nnvor  did  run  imooth 

I  can  only  aay  with  Gibbon  that  '  I  foci  dearer  to  myself  for 
having  been  capable  of  tluH  elegiuit  and  refined  putwion.' 

Tanored  and  I  have  made  a  vow  that  we  will  henceforth  uevor 
court,  and  that  unlcm  we  are  courted  we  will  remain  in  a  state 
of  single  blcssednciM. 

Tliurxday  niKlit,  May  II,  1820. 

My  DEAU  UiuxniKU: —  .  .  .  I  keep  my  promise,  though  prob- 
jd)Iy  you  would  Ims  us  well  plenocd  if  I  hml  ncv<*r  made  it  or  were 
to  forget  it.  Xothing  at  all  decisive  ban  taken  place,  but  aifairH 
c-ontinuc  to  wear  rather  n  favorable  aspect.  Last  evening  I  met 
by  lu'cidcnt,  in  King's  Bench  Walk,  Uol)ert  Hcarlctt,  tho  heir  of 
the  family,  lately  callwl  to  the  bar.  He  asked  me  if  I  would 
not  have  a  cup  of  tea  with  him.  I  went.  T  mentioned  that  his 
Hi.itcr  had  promiHwl  that  I  should  have  the  b»)nor  to  escort  her  to 
llio  Regent's  Park,  and  that  the  morrow  wom  dicH  non,  being 
Holy  Thursday.  He  8ai<l  it  would  l)e  a  goinl  day.  I  re<pu«te<l 
that  ho  would  arnujji^e  the  party,  and  he  jjromisctl  to  write  a  note 
to  Spring  (Jardcns.  He  called  to-day  at  two,  and  inqulrc<l  if  1 
WMs  of  tho  same  mind.  T  accompanied  him,  ordering  my  groom 
to  bring  the  horses  into  St.  James's  Park,  opposite  Sj)ring  Gar- 
(lins.  I  stayetl  nearly  half  an  hour  in  tho  drawing-room,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Scarlett  being  at  home,  and  Mackintosh  and  olhcre  com- 
ing in.     We  then  startetl — Miss  Scarlett,  her  brother,  and  the 


!i  m 


*rH 


383 


Ur»  or   UIRD  CAMPBK1.L 


[inn 


RIMMfinl  plotwlor  ill  whitv  tUiok  troiiMTN,  u  ImiIV  wniMlciKit  iiml  uh 
ollv«Mf)loml  iiioriiiiiK  fnx-k  ^nU,  rut  iirtir  thr  tiiHliion  of  ilio 
Dukc!  o(  VVi'lliiiKtoiiV.  \V«(  null'  tlinMi|{|i  St.  .Iuiuch'h  |»iiik,  iiit 
(^oMMtitiitioii  Hill,  into  tli<t  New  Utmil,  titDJ  nil  roiiinl  ijic  Ui';^r,.„t'M 
Turk,  K«''<i'>K  '•"••k  ulM»ut  nix.  Tim  nnivii-Hitimi  KiNNl-liiinioriil, 
l>iit  not  it|>|ii-<MM>hiiiK;  luiytliiiip;  |»iirtii>iilar.  Tlit'  \vi>tiili«<r  wtw 
(li!lii(litlul,  uiul  (hr  rxcitrNioii  wi'tit  olV  iilti>((i>tli(>r  very  well. 

Aitcordiii);  to  itll  n'tiMonin^  (IiIm  ir>  «'ii«-«Mim^riii(>nt,  hut  I  timl 
muttiTH  of  uti  mirtii  now  turn  out  w>  <lil!i'nntly  I'nun  whiit  tiiiKlit 
be  cxiHtstiHl  oil  fair  ralrulutioii,  that  i  know  not  whiit  iiifcritiiiti 
U)  (Iruw. 

Toinpltf,  TunmUy  nin\a  M»y  IH,  Imjo 

My  Diuii  UitiyriiKU: —  ...  I  wiw  N|H>ukini(  to  8curli!tt, 
to-<luy  about  op|M>rtunitivti  of  dititiuotion.  IIi*  Htiid  u  iiiiiii  niHti 
not  compluin  of  th«>  want  of  o|»|K)rtuiiiti('H  who  «Ioom  not  avail 
hiinHvlf  of  thorn;  ht;  hiiH.  Whuthur  th(>rt>  wim  any  hid* leu  in«>aii- 
ing  in  thin  you  know  oh  much  an  I  thi. 

I  ffi  throU);li  my  iiUHiiu>HM  n^  if  I  hml  nothing  elm!  to  think  of, 
ttud  I  u|)|>cnr  to  atti'iid  iih  usual  to  the  |ilcaMtiri>H  an  well  om  tht> 
buiiinL>(M  of  lift',  for  to-niorrow  I  give  a  dinner  party — (.'ht'twynd, 
M.  P.  for  Stattbnl ;  Twifw,  M.  P.  for  Woottcm  HawM-tt ;  (.'oltimui, 
Tanorwl,  Muuln,  ()Ml)orn,  Coniyn,  H.  H<iirl«tt. 

Templo   May  -'2,  IH20 

My  ukau  Fatiiku: —  .  .  .  This  Ix-'ing  Whit-Monday  and  u 
holiday,  I  liad  got  a  frank  with  the  intention  of  writing  you  a 
long  letter,  but  I  have  met  with  eoiiHtant  interruptioiirt  the  whole 
morning,  and  now  I  am  obligiKi  to  Htart  (m  a  little  exeurxion  I 
am  going  to  make  into  the  eouiitry.  T  wiVheil  partieularly  to 
have  Hpoken  to  you  alnnit  the  iiHsistJint.  I  eoiiMider  you  to  have 
proraiwHl  to  retain  one  on  tins  wetting  in  of  the  hot  weather  thii* 
summer,  and  now  I  elnim  the  iM^rforinaiu'e  of  your  jn'oniise. 
You  ought  not  to  delay  the  step,  at  the  latest,  iM'yond  the  time 
of  the  Suerament.  I  hoj)c  there  will  be  no  great  dillieulty  lu 
finding  a  decent  man.  Agree  to  give  liim  whatever  you  think  an 
adequate  stipend,  whiuh  I  nhall  have  great  pleasure  in  remitting. 


1820.] 


TlinoWN    riU>M    IIM   IIORSB. 


34:) 


I  ilinc<l  yittU'rtlny  with  n  iKirty  thnt  wlu'ii  I  wiu*  n  boy  I  iihoul  I 
huvo  thoii)(iit  much  ot*.  Thi>ni  wiw  at  tnhio  ol«l  Mm.  Sitlilnii^, 
Miiw  Htrplit'iiM  thi*  ct'lchmttxl  niii^rr,  uihI  Mcvt'inil  nthrr  thfutriciil 
Mtant.  Thifi  w»m  iit  lloriKt*  TwimtV.  Mrx.  HiddoiiM,  Htill  vi'iy 
■uloiiui  uiid  tniKitiil  ill  her  iiiiiniicr,  told  iih  moiiio  uiiiiimIiik  iiiimv 
dotiit  of  her  t\mi  \mny^  hroii({ht  out  l)y  Oarrii'k,  and  of  hi* 
<ii|iri<'ioiiM  mid  tymiiiiidil  i-oiidiift.  But  ^hc  talked  with  ctitliu- 
Hiiuttn  of  liiM  iK>wt>rM  of  u(rtin)(.  IKt  fuot>  Im  yet  very  Kmiid,  hut 
I  confifw  I  f«)und  ruthcr  iiior«>  plctmuro  in  hKikin^;  ut  MImi 
St«jih«i>M'H. 

T«  ipl".  Thuni<liiy  night,  M»y  2rt,  IflSO. 

My  DRAR  Brother  :—  .  .  .  Pi>rhu|Myuu  haw  a  littlo  curios- 
ity to  h(!ur  Hoiiivthin^  of  the  Monti'iii.  On  Monday  vvonini;  I 
rude  down  to  ColnhriMik.  Iloiichitl  thu  '  Windmill '  ut  SSult  Hill 
lK>twei>n  fight  and  ninv  next  inornin^^ ;  wom  tohl  Mr.  S<iirl(>tt  uiid 
hiH  family  won*  hrt>ukf:wtin(;  in  thu  ^rdcn — rather  un  unpleaHunt 
moment,  hut  I  wom  iMM)n  maitcd  along  with  them  under  a  great 
tri>e.  At  eleven  wo  prcKtHKhnl  to  Eton,  and  with  great  dillleulty 
got  into  the  College  yard.  Ilert;  wo  were  baked  alK)ve  un  hour 
till  the  King  arrived.  When  the  boyu  hud  {NthHed  in  review 
liefore  \m  Majcitty  and  the  Eton  |)art  of  the  ceremony  wum  over, 
I  remounted  my  horse.  And  now  I  thought  a  |)eriod  wum  Hnally 
put  to  all  my  joyu  and  MufleringM.  My  horw>,  terriHc<l  by  tlio 
orowd  and  noine,  reared  up  iHttweeii  two  lineH  of  carriages,  fell 
back,  throw  mo  to  the  ground,  and  appeai-cd  t«>eome  right  down 
U[)on  me.  Every  one  thought  I  wiw  killed.  But  I  iiiHtantly 
got  up,  with  very  little  seuHo  of  injury.  I  saw  tho  horttc  falling 
upon  mo  aiul  gave  myself  over,  but  he  could  not  have  done  more 
than  touch  me,  or  I  must  have  l)ecn  crushed  to  death.  I  got 
into  Mrs.  Scarlett's  carriage,  refused  to  be  bled,  and  was  driven 
back  to  Salt  Hill.  On  changing  my  dress  I  found  I  had  only 
received  a  few  bruises,  and  I  presently  joined  tho  ladies  in  the 
garden,  as  gay  as  a  lark.  Here  we  had  a  very  interesting  prome- 
nade for  several  hours.  The  boys  in  their  fantastic  dresses  were 
scattered  about  in  whimsical  groups,  and  the  garden,  which  10 


t 


■\   I 


Lii 


384 


LIFE  OF  LORD  OAMPBELL. 


[1820. 

bonutiful  in  ib^elt*,  wn.«  <Tnuf1r<l  M-ith  the  best  company.  T  Imd 
Miss  Scarlett  under  my  sinu,  aiul  we  walked  about  sometiiiicH 
with,  and  sonietinien  at  a  dishinee  from,  the  rest  of  the  party. 
About  six  wo  all  had  a  sort  of  s<'ratnbling  dinner,  and  Scarlett 
started  for  I/ondon.  I  attendal  the  ladies  to  the  terract;  at 
Windsor.  This  was  very  brilliant,  but  the  King  did  not  appear. 
I  met  two  Fife  friends — Wilkie  the  painter  and  his  sister.  On 
our  return  to  Salt  Hill  m>.  had  tea,  and  at  half-past  nine  1  took 
my  lea\o  and  came  to  town  in  a  post-ehaise,  being  forbidden  to 
mount  tin  hoi-seback  by  a  i)er.-:on  whom  I  could  not  disol)ey.  I 
could  not  boast  either  of  a  fainting  or  shrieking  at  the  time  of 
my  accident,  but  the  day  went  off  very  much  to  my  satisfaction. 
The  excursion  I  found  on  Wednesday  had  made  some  sensa- 
tion in  Westminster  Mall.  Several  young  barristei-s  who  are 
Eaton  men  had  observed  me,  and  Tantiretl  informs  me  of  a  mot 
in  circulation — that  if  you  talk  of  matrimony  to  Campbell  ho 
imraetliately  blushes  Scarlett.  But  I  really  do  not  know  what 
is  to  be  the  next  step,  or  if  matters  are  to  drop  here.  What 
do  you  advise  ?  1  think  I  shall  call  on  Sunday.  I  feel  no  ill 
consequences  from  my  fall,  but  that  I  may  not  treat  it  with  too 
much  contempt  I  abstain  from  wine.  I  must  try  to  get  well 
mounted  again. 

Temple,  Thursday  night,  June  1,  1820. 

My  deau  Brotheu  : —  .  .  .  You  are  quite  right  in  consid- 
ering that  tliis  is  the  family  which  of  all  others  it  would  be 
pleasantest  for  me  to  be  admitted  to.  In  politics,  religion  and 
literature,  Scarlett's  seutimentis  pretty  nearly  coincide  with  my 
own.  He  has  mixed  more  in  society,  and  has  better  talk  than 
any  man  at  the  bar  except  ]5rougham.  Mrs.  Scarlett  is  a  cousin 
of  ours,  being  a  Campbell.  Her  brother  now  occui)ies  an  estate 
called  Kilmory,  in  Argylcshire,  which  has  been  long  in  the  family. 
Her  father  had  an  estate  in  Jamaica,  where  he  chiefly  resided. 
She  is  not  very  brilliant,  but  is  quiet,  well  bred  and  agreeable. 

To  Mary  no  pencil  can  do  justice !  How  could  you  expect 
any  other  portrait  from  me  ? 


1820.] 


PROGREflS  OF  HIS  SUIT. 


386 


Having  entirely  made  up  my  mind,  I  think  my  best  course  is 
to  bring  the  thing  to  a  crisis  as  soon  as  I  decently  pan. 

Templf,  Sunday  evening,  June  9. 

Dear  George  : —  ...  Mrs.  Scarlett  and  her  daughters  had 
long  expressed  a  curiosity  to  see  the  new  throne,  and  I  knew  they 
were  going  down  for  this  purpose  at  two  o'clock  on  Saturday.  I 
received  them  at  the  entrance  to  the  House  of  Lords.  They  came 
in  two  carriages,  accompanied  by  some  of  the  Campbell  family, 
their  cousins.  Robert  and  I  conducted  them  into  the  House  of 
Lords  (where  I  placed  myself  on  the  woolsack,  hinting  that  I 
should  soon  occupy  it  de  jure)  and  into  the  House  of  Commons, 
where  I  interested  the  young  ladies  much  by  showing  them  the  spot 
on  the  Opposition  bench  where  their  papa  sits  alongside  of  Ticrney . 
Mrs.  Scarlett  said  they  were  going  to  the  British  Institution.  I 
expressed  a  wish  to  accompany  them.  She  said  she  would  take 
me.  I  threw  off  my  wig  and  gown,  and  was  presently  seated 
in  an  ojjcn  carriage  with  the  two  Miss  Scarletts  and  a  pretty  Miss 
Campbell.  We  made  the  tour  of  the  rooms  in  Pall  Mall,  and 
I  criticised  the  pictures  with  great  learning  and  eloquence.  I 
then  handed  the  ladies  into  their  carriages  and  mado  my  bow. 
I  intended  to  have  called  in  New  Street  this  morning,  but  it  has 
rained  the  whole  day ;  however  I  shall  at  all  events  see  the 
object  of  my  regards  on  Wednesday  evening,  Mrs.  Scarlett  being 
at  home  on  the  14th,  21st  and  28th.  I  wish  most  sincerelv  that  I 
could  bring  the  matter  to  a  crisis.  But  how  the  ice  is  to  be 
broken  I  don't  yet  discover.  I  have  not  interchanged  two  sen- 
tences with  Scarlett  himself  for  a  fortnight.  Hom'  far  these 
minute  details  may  interest  you  I  really  do  not  know. 

You  will  have  later  news  of  the  King  and  Queen  by  the  papers 
than  any  I  can  now  give.  Brougham,  Denman  and  Williams 
have  all  given  me  some  account  of  their  interviews  with  her 
Majesty.  They  describe  her  as  an  exceedingly  clever  and  agree- 
able woman.  Williams  says  she  is  in  the  highest  spirits,  and 
most  sincerely  bent  upon  having  her  conduct  investigated.  It  is 
still  believed  however  that  this  will  redound  veiy  little  to  her 

VOL.  I.  17  , 


,  •(  I 


! 


J:' 


"■I:, 


ill 


■  H  ■! 


li 


386 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1820. 


credit,  and  her  popularity  is  confined  to  the  rabble.  She  shakos 
dreadfully  the  stability  of  the  Administration,  and  I  have  a 
strong  notion  there  will  be  some  change  ere  long. 

July  7, 1820. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  As  you  have  sympathized  with 
me  in  such  a  lively  manner  throughout  this  unhappy  aifair,  I 
deem  it  my  duty,  however  painful,  to  inform  you  minutely  of 
its  conclusion.    Copy : 

'Mt  dear  Campbell : — If  I  could  permit  myself  to  indulge  a  personal 
wish  upon  the  subject  of  the  enclosed  papers,  1  would  express  my  concern 
and  regret  at  their  contents*  I  think  it  right  to  send  them  to  you  without 
delay,  us  it  is  not  right  upon  important  subjects  to  trifle  with  a  man's  expecta- 
tions. It  appears  to  me  also  that  I  could  not  by  any  words  of  my  own  give  a 
more  genuine  expression  of  the  feelings  which  dictate  these  letters,  or  convoy 
,them  in  a  manner  more  respectful  to  you. 

'  Ever  yours  truly, 

'James  Scarlett.' 

You  may  imagine,  my  dear  brother,  what  a  state  of  niiud 
I  am  in.  What  is  to  become  of  me  I  know  not.  I  am  at  this 
moment  wholly  unfit  to  pcrfornj  the  duties  of  life.  I  most  sin- 
cerely believe  that  it  would  be  the  bi'st  thing  for  myself  and  my 
friends  if  I  were  at  once  released  from  thorn.  I  shall  never  be 
a  credit  or  a  comfoi-t  to  you  nuu'e.  But  my  love  for  you,  as  well 
as  higher  considerations,  will  induce  me  to  struggle  with  my  fate 
and  to  play  out  the  })art  that  is  assigne<l  to  me,  however  distaste- 
ful it  may  be. 

I  am  particularly  vexed  that  I  mentioned  this  matter  to  our 
father,  though  my  motives  were  certainly  laudable.  You  will 
tell  him  it  is  at  an  end  in  the  manner  that  will  be  most  agreea- 
ble to  him. 

I  leave  town  on  the  16th,  for  the  circuit.  Would  to  God  that 
that  day  were  come. 

I  will  write  you  a  few  lines  probably  before  then,  but  you 


*  The  enclosed  papers  were  two  letters :  one  from  Miss  Scarlett  to  her  father, 
and  another  from  her  to  my  father,  declining  his  offer  of  marriage. — Ed. 


E8  Scarlett.' 


1820.] 


HIS  SUIT  NOT  SUCJC'EHSPUL. 


387 


will  not  coujsider  it  any  want  of  affection  if  my  communicutious 
for  some  time  to  come  should  \ye  few  and  short.    God  bless  you. 

J.C. 

Five  P.M. 

I  am  still  in  a  sad  .state  of  mind,  but  I  hoi)e  I  shall  be  better 
to-morrow. 

Write  to  me  immediately.  Do  not  think  of  coming  up  here. 
I  shall  be  on  the  circuit  before  you  could  arrive.  1  give  my 
honor  to  act  a  manly  part,  and  to  struggle  to  do  as  you  would 
wish  me. 

I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  taste  anything  to-day,  but  I  shall 
force  myself  to  have  some  refreshment  presently.  What  seeni.s 
remarkable,  I  have  a  constant  drow.sino.ss,  whereiw  before  I  was 
unable  to  sleep. 

Are  not  her  letters  well  written  ?  and  they  are  in  the  most 
l)eautiful  hand  you  ever  saw.  My  futu  re  lot  is  a  terrible  con- 
trast with  what  it  might  have  been. 

Sunday,  July  11 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  I  hardly  kigin  to  recover  from 
the  stupor  that  overwhelmed  me,  but  I  support  my.self  to  the 
world  with  tolerable  composure.  Certainly  everything  conspires 
to  add  to  the  poignancy  of  my  di.sappointment.  If  I  meet  an 
acquaintance  he  puts  on  a  smilling  face  and  wiys,  'Well,  when 
is  it  to  l)e?     I  congratulate  vou  with  all  niv  heart.'  .  .  . 

I  do  not  think  I  have  anything  to  complain  of.  Although, 
from  the  .situations  in  which  we  were  seen  together,  any  stranger 
would  have  supposed  she  had  made  up  her  mind  to  accept  the 
offer,  yet  these  were  not  of  her  choosing,  and  generally  she 
had  no  control  over  them.  I  cannot  .say  that  she  ever  gave  me 
any  positive  encouragement.  The  conduct  of  the  family  has 
been  marked  by  delicacy,  frankness  and  kindness.  Yesterday, 
in  court,  Robert  handed  me  a  slip  of  pa[)er  with  these  lines : 

Fama  tui  casus  nostras  pervenit  ad  aures, 
Indignas  sortes  clam  dolet  atra  domus. 


"I 


f  If 


1     !'    ,i      \' 


ml 


\  i\ 


388  ZJFB  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL.  [1820. 

I  now  take  leave  of  the  subject  with  you  for  ever.  Excuse, 
my  dear  brother,  the  pain  and  anxiety  I  have  caunod  yon. 
Request  our  father  not  to  mention  it  to  me  again. 

Saturday,  July  14,1820. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  I  have  had  within  a  few  days 
an  expectation  and  a  disappointment  which  formerly  would  have 
excitetl  me  with  violence — but  which  have  overcast  me  like  n 
summer  cloud.  It  was  thought  that  Copley  would  go  out  of  Par- 
liament, and  conduct  the  prosecution  against  the  Queen  at  the 
bar  of  the  liords.  Without  any  direct  promise,  he  gave  me  fully 
to  understand  that  in  that  cjisc  he  would  employ  me  as  a  junor 
to  assist  him.  The  same  day  the  cabinet  changal  their  mind 
and,  in  consequence  of  Brougham's  motion,  agreed  that  leave 
should  be  aske<l  for  the  Attorney-  and  Solicitor-Greneral,  remain- 
ing in  the  House  of  Commons,  to  appear  in  pereon  for  the  Crown 
in  the  Loi*ds.  Tho  nomination  of  the  counsel  thus  rested  entirely 
with  the  Attornc'}  -General — and  my  chance  was  gone.  But  onr 
fatal  rememhrance  for  the  present  prevents  me  from  feeling  joy 
or  sorrow  at  any  other  event. 

I  care  little  therefore  that  then;  is  but  an  indifferent  prospect 
for  the  'nrcuit,  or  that  I  am  withf>ut  the  promotion  which  I  had 
every  reason  to  expect  by  rank  being  conferred  on  Taunton  and 
Puller.  This  delay  is  one  of  the  blessetl  effects  of  the  Queen's 
coming  to  England.  Silk  gowns  cannot  he  made  without 
Brougham  being  included,  he  having  got  the  promise  from  Loid 
Liverpool  and  the  Chancellor,  and  in  tho  present  posture  of 
affairs  he  cannot  decently  accept  of  any  favor  from  the  Crown. 

Stafford,  Sunday,  July  'Si,  ISiiO. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  What  weighs  heavily  upon  nic 
is  that  my  last  chance  for  enjoying  the  charities  of  domestic  life 
is  fled.  These  I  enjoyed  eminently  in  early  life ;  I  think  I  am 
qualified  for  them,  and  I  have  always  longed  for  them.  I  have 
always  looked  with  horror  on  the  condition  of  a  man  in  the 
decline  of  life,  with  uo  one  near  him  who  cares  for  him,  or  whom 


I  '. 


1820.] 


IN  LOW  aiMin're. 


389 


he  cores  fur.  Such  will  soou  be  my  condition.  But  I  am 
trespassing  beyond  all  bounds  on  your  sympathy.  Let  me  rather 
Mtatc  anything  to  give  you  pleasure.  My  appetite  has  returned 
and  my  health  is  jKTfeiJtly  good.  I  already  look  much  better.  I 
i^uddcnly  seemed  ten  yeai-s  older,  and  the  crow's-feet  were  planted 
under  my  eyes  for  the  first  time.  There  I  fear  they  must  remain, 
but  they  are  not  by  any  means  so  distinctly  visible.  When 
actually  engaged  in  a  cause  I  am  nearly  as  keen  as  usual,  but  I 
find  it  very  difficult  to  read  my  briefs,  or  to  talk  to  the  attorneys. 

Stafford,  July  23,  1820, 

My  dear  Father  : — I  hope  you  are  now  enjoying  otium  eum 
diffnitate  at  some  fashionable  watering  place  on  the  coast  of  Fife. 

Nothing  at  all  remarkable  has  occurred  on  the  circuit.  We 
have  for  judges  Best  and  Richardson,  with  whom  .1  am  on  the 
most  friendly  aiid  familiar  footing.  Best  is  as  good  natured 
fellow  as  ever  was  in  the  world.  Richardson  is  the  most  unex- 
ceptionable man  I  know  ;  his  manners  are  most  amiable  and  his 
conduct  uniformly  most  obliging.  He  is  not  only  a  deep  lawyer 
but  a  very  elegant  scholar.  I  do  not  recollect  any  appointment 
which  gave  such  univei'sal  satisfaction  as  when  he  was  made  a 
judge,  and  he  has  fully  answered  the  expectations  entertained  of 
him. 

When  the  circuit  is  over,  I  proj)Ose  returning  to  town  to  watch 
tiie  event  of  the  Queen's  trial.  I  thought  of  going  to  Italy,  but 
I  should  not  wish  (as  Milton  was)  to  be  in  that  country  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  civil  war.  I  do  most  seriously  apprehend 
some  dreadful  convulsion.  If  people  knew  wh.'it  step  next  to 
take,  there  would  be  a  unanimous  opinion  for  .sotting  King, 
Queen  and  the  whole  family  a  packing.  They  are  a  sad  disgrace 
to  the  country.  Shall  we  send  for  the  King  of  Sardinia,  the 
true  descendant  of  Charles  I.,  and  recognize  him  as  our  legitimate 
Sovereign  ?  or  shall  we  try  a  President  or  Consul  ?  I  should 
not  much  dislike  the  experiment  of  a  republic,  but  I  confess  I  am 
rather  a  friend  to  a  constitutional  monarchy.  Under  the  latter 
government  a  country  will  enjoy  more  freedom  and  happiness  in 


V      '      'I 


':•  i 


i  Jr 


-!    fc 


)■  I   , 


MO 


lAVK  OF   LOllU   (.'AMPIJELL. 


[1820. 


an  exlendet]  period  of  time,  although  it  cannot  equal  the  short 
burst  of  splendor  which  may  he  exhibited  by  the  former. 

Temple,  August  20,  1820, 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  We  finished  at  Gloucester 
between  seven  and  eight  on  Tuesday  evening.  I  itnniediutely 
mounted  on  horseback  and  wmIc  to  Cheltenham.  I  was  in  time 
for  half  play,  and  Farrcn  in  Sir  Adam  Tem|)C8t  soon  made  me 
forget  the  bickerings  of  the  bar.  Xoxt  nutrning  1  drank  the 
waters  and  lounged  in  the  libraries  till  five,  when  I  seated  myseli' 
in  the  London  mail.  I  found  for  a  travelling  companion  a  peer 
of  Parliament,  going  to  attcii<l  her  Majesty's  trial,  the  Lord 
Vi(»couut  Hercf(»nl.  liefore  seven  in  the  morning  we  were  in 
Pici'odilly.  It  is  delightful  to  gt't  over  a  tiriwtme  road  which 
you  have  often  travelletl  in  this  manner.  It  is  like  going  from 
point  to  point  without  passing  through  the  middle  space, a  faculty 
which  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  angels  themselves  possess.  I 
breakfasted  and  went  down  to  Westminster,  found  the  counsel 
for  his  Majesty  the  King  and  her  Majesty  the  Queen  in  the 
coiFee-house,  and  chatted  with  them  for  half  an  hour,  when  her 
Majesty  was  announced.  I  ran  out  and  was  close  to  her  when 
she  alighted  and  entered  the  House  of  I^ords.  Not  iK'ing  forti- 
fied with  a  Peer's  order,  I  discovered  there  would  be  more 
difficulty  in  gaining  admission  into  the  House  than  the  thing  was 
worth,  and  I  returned  to  the  Temple.  .  .  . 

Iri  the  course  of  the  evening  I  wrote  a  note  to  Lord  Brcadal- 
bane,  asking  for  an  order  of  admission  to  the  House  of  Lords 
when  it  should  be  convenient  to  him.  Early  next  morning  he 
sent  me  one  for  Monday.  I  enclose;  the  autograph,  which  I 
know  you  will  l)ehold  with  great  delight. 

The  publication  of  the  proceedings  !  i  *'ie  Queen's  case  being 
wisely  permitted,  I  can  communicate  very  little  to  you  upon  the 
subject  which  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  newspapers. 

From  the  information  I  had  received  I  hiul  long  ei  tertained 
no  doubt  of  her  guilt,  and  I  ai)prehend  that  it  will  be  clearly 
established.     They  say,  however,  that  the  clause  for  dissolving 


1820.] 


TRIAL  OF  QUEEN  CAROLINE. 


891 


the  innrriogo  will  not  pass.  The  Tories  ami  High  Church  peo- 
ple object  to  thin,  concoiving  that  marriage  is  a  quasi-Sacrament, 
untl  that  it  cannot  Ik;  lawfully  diHsolved  by  any  civil  authority 
unless  for  adultery  in  the  one  party,  the  other  being  free  from 
blame,  and  unless  there  Iuih  Ik'cu  a  divorce  in  the  ecclesiastical 
courts.  But  degradation  without  divorce,  T  think,  will  leave 
the  King  in  a  worse  situation  than  before  the  matter  was  stirred. 
Brougham  and  Dennian  have  accpiittcd  themselves  exceedingly 
well,  although  they  luv.  nither  blamed  for  their  attack  on  the 
Duke  of  York.  The  Attorney-General  and  (what  has  surprisetl 
and  grieved  me)  the  Solicitor  have  been  veiy  bjul.  I  dined 
yesterday  at  Eltham  with  Mr.  Justict;  Best.  Sir  Thomas  Tyr- 
whitt  told  him  that  on  Friday  the  Queen  said  to  him,  in  the 
broken  English  which  she  still  s})eaks,  'Sir  Thomas,  don't  you 
write  every  day  to  the  King?'  He  observed  that  he  frequently 
had  occasion  to  address  letters  to  his  Majesty.  *  Then  write  to 
his  Majesty  that  I  never  was  in  better  health,  and  that  I  hoije 
to  live  many  years  to  plague  him.'  Best  mentioned  this  as  a 
proof  of  her  extreme  profligjicy,  but  it  nither  shows  her  turn  for 
buifoonery. 

All  my  Gloucester  elo<juence  is  lost.  You  will  look  in  vain 
in  the  newspapers  for  any  account  of  the  Oxford  circuit.  The 
most  whimsical  case  I  was  concerned  in  was  an  action  for 
defamation  by  a  brewer  for  saying  that  he  boiled  toads  in  his  beer. 
For  the  defendant  I  observed  that  there  was  no  great  harm  done 
if  toads  were  boiled  in  the  beer,  as  this  was  a  noted  recipe  for 
giving  it  spirit.  Look  to  the  beer  brewetl  by  the  witches  in 
Macbetli.     No  malt  and  bo|v> 

Toad,  that  under  the  cold  stone 
Days  and  nights  hast  thirty-one 
Sweltered  venom  sleeping  got, 
Boil  thou  first  i'  the  charmed  pot. 


'  '  J!i 


I  made  the  jury  laugh  and  they  gave  the  plaintiff  a  verdict  with 
one  shilling  damages. 

Mr.  Justice  Best. — Gentlemen,  are  you  aware  that  by  giving 


.1  ...:i| 

1  ■  'M 


8M 


LIFE  OF    LOUD  CAMrilELL. 


[1820. 


such  Hiimll  (liiniiiguH  you  will  couiiivl  the  plaintiff  to  |my  the  coNts 
of  hriiiging  tluM  action  Cor  the  vindication  of  his  character? 

Jury, — My  Lord,  wo  finds  for  the  plaintiff.  Danmgeti,  one 
shilling.  I  , 

Porii,  September  17,  1820, 

Mv  DEAR  Fatiieii:—  ...  I  muihwl  Dover  on  Sunday 
morning  (Hoptenilxir  .3d)  with  my  camarndc  HumphrcyH.*  The 
wind  hlcw  w)  strong  from  the  cn.st  that  it  was  im;  oHsildt-  to 
moke  Calais,  hut  the  captain  undcrt(M)k  to  carry  uh  into  Bou- 
logne, and  he  performed  his  promise  hy  four  in  the  aftcrn(H)n. 

Boulogne  is  l)ecf)me  a  sort  of  English  watering  place.  I  saw 
«?veml  ladies  swimming  extremely  well.  We  went  to  a  hall  in 
the  evening  where  there  were  alK)ut  2000  people  dancing  quad- 
rilles at  the  same  time.  I  can't  help  thinking  they  Avere  hotter 
employwl  than  if  they  had  been  getting  drunk  at  i)ul)lic  houses. 
We  hire<l  a  caUche  ft  tioujflet  to  carry  us  to  Paris  and  hack  for 
180  francs.  We  visited  Bonaparte's  pillar  which,  like  the  other 
works  he  left  imperfect,  is  alwut  to  Im  completed.  It  is,  I  think, 
much  more  a  monument  to  the  glory  of  England  than  of  Fmnce. 
We  were  not  able  to  stiu-t  next  dav  till  one,  Mid  they  woiild  fain 
have  detainetl  us  at  Moutreuil  for  the  night,  hy  a  story  that  the 
gates  of  Ablwville  were  shut  at  sunset,  but  between  ten  and 
eleven  they  were  oj)ene<l  to  us  for  10/».  We  reached  Amiens  on 
Tuesday  morning  to  breakfast.  My  companion  is  very  learnotl 
in  the  beaiLr  arts,  and  was  very  elociuent  upon  the  Cathedral. 
To  please  him  I  agreed  to  nuike  a  (Utour  by  Compi^gne,  although 
I  had  before  seen  the  palace.  In  ascending  the  Sonime  avc  found 
rather  an  interesting  country.  On  Wednesday  at  6  i'.  M.  we 
reached  the  Hotel  d'Artois,  Rue  d'Artois,  where  I  have  now  the 
honor  to  write  to  you.  We  have  got  a  very  elegant  appartcvicnt 
of  five  pieces,  for  »vhich  we  pay  125  francs  a  week.  For  once 
in  my  life,  I  am  in  the  midst  of  splendor  which  I  may  call  my 
own.     We  are  surrounded  on  all  hands  by  statues  and  vases  and 


* 'A  conveyancer  of  Lincoln's  Inn — rather  a  well-informed  and  agreeable 
man.'— Letter  of  September  2,  1820. 


1820.] 


VISIT  TO  PARIS. 


Qd'S 


vUxikn  niul  inirrora.  I  wIhIi  I  nttiUI  give  you  uU  a  dinner  here 
to-night,  iuhI  curry  you  to  Tiv»»li.  My  tiine  luw  jhimhwI  not  un- 
|ileiimintly.  I  exfMuited  no  vi-ry  lively  pleiwurtft.  1  am  frw  I'rom 
rimui,  and  my  thoughts  are  direeteil  into  new  ehannrlH.  My  only 
*K-cuiHition  reHembling  l)UKine>«8  litw  Ixrn  an  atteiu|>t  to  Icurn  to 
read  and  H]>c>ak  Italian.  I  have  iindersto(Kl  the  language  pretty 
well  a  long  while,  hut  I  never  Ix'tori;  had  any  notion  of  itM  Houndtt, 
l«'yo»id  what  I  could  aeijuire  at  tin;  o|)i'i"a.  I  have  now  a  manter 
who  eomeM  to  me  every  morning,  and  1  liave  applied  to  the  pur- 
Hiiit  with  Home  zeal.  I  ean  wuintcr  for  an  l0>ur  or  two  on  the 
lM)ulevardH  and  amune  mynelf  with  the  printH  of  ('undine,  IJer- 
ganu  and  (ieorgc  IV.  There  are  here  at  leant  hall'  a  tlozen  print* 
of  the  Baron.  And  there  art-  several  very  humorou,>«  vaudevilles 
»tn  the  King  and  (^ueen  to  Ik;  bought  for  two  MOitt*.  This  prov^tt 
HeeniH  to  me  very  much  to  lower  the  character  of  England  on  the 
Continent.  The  indecency  of  making  wuch  intpiirien  without  any 
State  ncccHrtity  is  constantly  thrown  in  oiu*  teeth.  They  say,  truly, 
that  it  avn  only  be  to  please  a  ca|)ri«;e  of  the  Sovereign,  which  iu 
a  free  country  ought  to  l)e  overrulc<l. 

1  yesterday  witnessed  a  very  interesting  and  im])reHsive  sticne, 
the  interment  of  Marhhal  Jjcftvre,  Due  de  Dant/ic.  I  stotnl 
close  by  Marshal  Mortier,  who  deli vereil  the  funeiid  ((ration,  and 
caught  every  word  he  said.  Leftvre  was  laid  next  to  Massena, 
whose  moimment  George  will  remendx'r.  The  funeral  service 
is  exactly  like  the  English,  with  the  addition  of  sprinkling  the 
grave  with  holy  water.  Almost  all  the  surviving  marshals  were 
present.  The  firing  over  the  grave  continued  above  an  liour. 
There  were  three  regiments  of  the  line,  but  I  have  heard  the 
Cupar  volunteers  fire  better  than  any  of  them. 

The  King  is  not  expectetl  to  survive  above  a  few  months. 
The  dropsy  gains  upon  him  daily.  He  is  not  able  to  take  his 
promenades,  or  to  go  to  the  chapel,  or  to  appear  in  the  Galerie 
Vitr6e.  The  accouchement  of  the  Duchesse  de  Berry  is  hourly 
expected.  I  should  think  it  a  better  thing  for  the  monarchy, 
and  for  the  Bourbon  dynasty,  that  she  should  not  have  a  son. 
The  succession  of  the  Orleans  familv  would  be  looked  to  with 


!l 


rll 


II     M 


rf  ill 


I;  i 

I 
I 


t    i 


I'll 

;  iill 


304 


Mr.':  or  i/)rd  oampbki.l. 


[1820. 

great  Mitii«ru(>tioi>.    The  revolution  of  1()H8  wam  l>rought  iilmiit  hv 
the  Itirtli  nt*  n  nod  to  Juiiu>m  II. 

Tiiliim  Im  now  urtluK,  but  Fn-nrh  tnij^iily  nivw  mc  littlo 
pUniMurc,  and  I  jjo  to  tin'  n'luii^'ntution  ot'tlu)|»ic(rriof  (\irnuillf 
and  Hiu'inr  hh  a  ta«k.  Kr« mli  t-oniwly  I  lov«  to  folly,  txit  un- 
fortunati'ly  Mdllc  Mars  Iuim  for  tlio  picMcnt  ivtiml  from  tlii> 

To-morn»\v  \v«t'k   in  tlxcd  for  tin-  day  of  our  depart ii re.     I 
ox|K.vt  to  b<>  in  London  hy  ThurMday  iliu  28tli. 
Jm  rivfrlMvo.     f^rt'ihir  ufnilimmo. 

Temple,  Oi;loti»r  I,  18J(> 

My  df.ak  I-'atiikii:—  .  .  .  Wf  In-gin  work  uKiiiii  at  OuiM- 
hall  to-r  >rrow  niornin>(.  I  found  plenty  of  Wriefs  on  my  tal»le, 
but  iK'fore  1  oiH'nnI  them  I  nat  down  and  flninhcd  the  'AMki!.' 
Walter  has  redeeincij  himself  froni  the  disgrace  of  the '  Monustciy.' 
I  presume  you  find  this  is  'Uterestinj^  as  any  of  its  predee«'ssors. 
HuHincHH  is  at  first  irksoin.-,  hut  I  am  glad  of  (K*eupati«»n  of  miy 
Hort  to  drive  away  the  thick  eomin}];  fancies  uf  a  minci  a  little 
disviLscd.  The  Temple  and  London  I  may  say  present  a  vast 
solitude.  There  will  he  plenty  of  arrivals  to-morrow.  1  have 
8cen  two  of  the  Queen's  «ounsel,  who  atfect  to  be  in  very  liij^li 
spirits.  We  left  the  Countess  Aldi  and  a  ji;reat  numl)er  of  other 
witnesses  for  the  (Jueen  at  IJouIojfiie.  I  have  brought  over  a 
French  metrical  report  of  the  trial  to  show  to  Brougham. 

4 

WoHtiiiinKter,  Momlay,  5  i>.  sj.,  October  9. 

My  dear  Fatiikii  : —  ...  Tlu;  House  of  Lords  has  sat  so 
late,  that  I  have  no  time  to  give  you  any  account  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  day,  but  you  will  see  all  in  the  newspapers. 

The  fine  scene  was  when  the  Queen  raised  her  veil — looked 
fiercely  at  the  witness — exclaimed  *  Theodore !  *  and  rushed  out 
of  the  House.  Her  clothes  touchetl  me  as  she  passed.  She  looked 
more  like  a  Fury  than  a  woman.  This  exhibition  nmst  do  licr 
a  great  deal  of  mischief,  for  it  will  Ih'  said  that,  not  withstand- 
ing her  hanlihotxl,  from  a  consciousness  of  her  guilt  she  could 


1820.] 


TRIAL  OF  Qirp.RM  OAROUKIS. 


not  fiuMi  tli(*  witiMiM.  It'  MiytHihi  in  to  Im>  lM>li(>v(>(l,  he  Iiiim  ulmuly 
pmvml  nuK'h  inni**  timii  \n  ii(><>«>ftMiry  to  Nii|i|M»rt  thv  Hill.  Diit 
the  Qii(>i>i)'m  fniiiiMfj  my  tlirit  they  cati  itrntnidict  him,  mu\  \t\n\v 
liini  to  uloiiit. 

Tiunpln,  WndtiHKiUy  ni^ht.  Octotiitr  II,  IK20 

My  DKAii  HitoTiiKitt—  ...  I  now  U\kv  a  wry  lively  intor- 
«'Nt  ill  the  (^ihtii'h  trial.  I  think  it  will  lead  to  iiii|M>rtaMt  rhaii^cM. 
The  Hill  cannot  \wi^,  and  if  it  In>  loHt  MiniHterM  cannot  remain 
in  otlicf'.  The  Whi^;H  are  the  only  men  to  HiUHTctHl  them.  At 
thin  moment  theiv  Ih  more  than  an  equal  <-hanc(<  of  Orey  iMiin^ 
I'rime  Mininter  iM'iore  Chrir^tmas.  Thin  woidd  lead  to  an  imme- 
diate dirwoliitioii  of  Parliament.  I  have  inado  up  my  mind  to 
\fvt  into  the  ilotirte  of  CommoiiH.  Kven  if  thin^r*  ^o  on  an  at 
preM'nt,  I  think  I  will  Imy  a  Heat  and  join  the  VVhigfl.  MiniH- 
terM have  U'liaved  tto  fooliHhly  and  Mordidly  in  thin  atfair  of  the 
(^U4!<>n,  thai  I  should  opiMMv  them  with  pasnion.  Should  tiny 
go  out,  Sairlett  would  l)c  Attorney -General,  Home  nay  Chanc(>llor. 
KrHkine  cannot  hold  the  HcalH  again.  Hcarlett  \h  the  U'Ht  man 
the  |«rty  furniHhi'H  wince  Itomilly's  death,  and  he  may  very  jmw- 
sibly  be  solecteil.  I  continue  on  the  moHt  friendly  f(M)tin|:;  with 
him,  and  I  make  no  doubt  that  he  would  l)c  dispoHeil  to  Hcrve  me. 
But  I  still  feci  as  if  no  Hort  of  succchm  or  promotion  could  |;ivu 
me  any  satisfaction.  With  a  few  intervals,  life  ap|)cars  to  me  as 
desolate- OS  ever.  But  I  will  not  say  more  u|Km  this  subject  at 
present. 

Teinplo,  Tuesday  night,  October  24  18::0. 

My  dkau  Huotiikh: —  .  .  .  All  hope  of  a  chanj?e  of  Min- 
istry has  vani,«*he<l.  For  five  or  six  days  it  was  thought  that  the 
Bill  must  be  thrown  out  with  dingracc,  and  that  Ministers  must 
follow  it.  But  the  Queen's  enemies  have  rallied,  and  are  again 
very  strong. 

The  prosj)ect  of  the  Whigs  coming  in  was  very  agreeable  to 
me,  both  on  public  and  private  grounds.  I  really  think  that  the 
best  hope  of  escaping  a  convulsion  is  in  having  a  strong  Govern- 


i  >i 


I  1 
I 


i:;|l 


"*'. 

I  1  m 

f  i' ;  m 

' 

1  i     '. 
'  .     ■  ■  1 

! 

It  'I'i'  I"' ' 

m. 

>  1 1 


3M 


i.trR  or  i4)Rn  campdki.l, 


[IM'JU. 


mniit (IiM|MMM>«|  to  ii><>iu«(irt<M of  rcf«»riii  iiikI  ntixiliiiiinn.  (in^viuul 
liitiiMlowtH'  iM<4>iii  to  till*  to  In>  iiit'ii  of  ^nui  tiiliiitM  iin«|  lilH'nil 
(•nlurK«*<l,iM)iiii<l  priiK'iplcM  iu«  Ntiili>f«iiifti.  TIm'  UailiculM  will  ovrr- 
wliiliu  tin-  Crown  if  nii|>|M)rti><l  liy  ('iiMtlcrruKh  ami  Vuiiwitrari. 
My  own  il«>Htiny  I  think  «-oMti«tiM  iim>  with  thin  |Hirty,  whiitcvfr 
their «|iiiiliticM  may  In>.  I  hiiv«'  iilwityH  iMfti,  itiul  Imtm  kimwii  ti» 
Im>,  u  IMtn'iif,  uiiti  I  f«>iil(l  not  join  tli«>  ToricH  without  Miil»ji>4>tiii|{ 
niyM'lf  to  r(>pr<Hii'ht'H  for  whii-h  no  su«ii>mh  cotiltl  imlt'iuuifv  nii-. 

AtV<r  ull  tloH  paniih'  you  will  not  Im>  HiiritriM-il  wIh'u  I  tfll  vnu 
that  I  am  a  fan<li<latt>  fur  ltr<Htk>«V.  I  yt'Htcrday  tlintil  in  nmi- 
|Miny  with  Scarlett  at  th«<  Verulam.aml  ht>  voluntarily  ulltiid  to 
put  me  up.  I  m'u\  I  r«houl<l  like  it  very  nuieh.  1  nuty  verv  |hin- 
Hihly  Ih>  hlueklHilled — a  common  event,  which  hap|N*ne«|  ihri<-e  to 
|HM)r  MuekintoHJi.  My  lM>ttt  chiuici'  Ih  my  not  \h'\i\)i  known. 
Scarlett  cnuntH  to  carry  me  throu);h  l>y  hiH  own  popularity.  You 
of  c«)urMc  know  what  wirt  of  an  cMtaMiHliment  ItriNtkHH  in.  To 
Ik!  a  memlM>r  of  thi.t  cluli  in  'liHtinj;  in  the  W'U'm  party  with  u 
vt'n^eanc<>.  \h\  I  camiot  ^o  on  Hhiily-Hliallyin^  in  |M)liticH  any 
longer.  While  I  '  wait  a  hit/  an  you  call  it,  life  ih  ^one.  To  Im> 
mire  nothin^^  can  Ih-  more  inau.HpiciouH  than  the  pronpn'tH  of  the 
Whi^  at  this  moment.  They  have;  only  incensed  the  Kin^  more 
a^aiuMt  them  l>v  thwarting  him  in  the  favorite  measure  of  liin 
rei^n,anil  the)  hardly  hope  for  otlice  while  he  livei^.  The  Duke 
of  York  iri  a  Htill  greater  enemy  to  them,  and  the  Duke  of  Clar- 
t>ncc>  hatcH  thetn,  not  only  an  a  party,  hut  |M>rHonally.  1  met  a 
man  at  the  Salon  des  Ktrangern  at  Paris  who  told  nu;  hi.n  r^ysteni 
of  play  was  this — to  wait  till  iioir  had  lost  five  tim«'M  Hucctwively, 
and  then  to  go  on  hacking  this  color  till  he  won.  Upon  the  suiiie 
principle  a  man  may  join  the  Whigs  at  the  present  moment,  con- 
si(h>ring  their  })ast  disasters.  Scarlett  did  not  at  all  know  when 
there  will  Ikj  u  ballot,  and  my  fate  may  not  Ik)  decidwl  for 
months.  In  the  way  of  siKMcty,  IJrooks's  nuist  Im-  a  very  delight- 
ful place.  .  .  . 

I  am  going  to  set  up  a  cabriolet,  which  is  the  most  fiwhionable 
carriage  in  London  for  a  single  num.  I  mean  to  put  my  old 
bay  into  it,  and  he  will  make  u  very  handsome  figure. 


1820.J  TKIAL  or  qUKKN  CAIU>MNR.  397 

naiMhdll.  Wi'lnM'Uy,  0<itoh«r  2A.  lA'JO. 

Nolhiiig  iM>\v  of  iiiiii'li  iiniMtrtaim'.  Dviiiiinii  in  ko(iik  ou 
«xui)tMHitgly  w«>ll,  iind  Iiiim  an|iiirf«l  iH>vi>r-iii(liiii(  n\ory,  .  ,  . 

Ttmpln,  Mumlity  niK>>t,  Nuvnmbar  A,  MJU 

My  OKAit  Katiiku:—  ...  I  oii^^lit  to  iiiciitioii  to  you  tlnit 
Gitt'oril  liUH  I'litin'ly  n'rovrrt'd  liiniwH"  Uy  IiIh  iiui>*t«'rly  reply.  All 
who  liHinl  it  u^rii'  in  iM'Mtowiii);  (I|m)Ii  it  tin*  lii^li«>Ht  |NiHHilil» 
|iraiM>  for  ii*'iit«<ricMM,  vij^or  aii«!  ..|iirit.  Il«'  Iiiim  a^uiii  a  fair  chaiitM) 
to  Ih>  Lord  ( 'liaiKH'llor.  NotwitliHtaiMlint(  Hroii^lianrH  t>l<N|ii<>ii<'«>, 
li«>  in  not  thought  to  liavf  ron<liift«il  tlir  dfiii'im-  with  tiiiK'h  Ju<l)f- 
iiM'iit.  \\y  holding  out  the  «'X|H>rtalioii  of  falling  witiicHMi'H  whom 
h«'  ilid  not  call,  Im'  pivr  llu'  otli«>r  Mid«>  a  trnnrndoiiH  advanta);<*,  an<i 
it  a|)|N>aml  lu*  it'  hin  mnv  had  *>ntir<>ly  lirok<>n  down,  iliul  thi>m 
not  lH><>n  other  witnrKK«>H  who  nii^ht  have  Ix'en  ealleil,  I  nhould 
have  tlion^tht  that  the  (|ueen  had  made  a  triiitnphatit  defence, 
and  that  HJie  wan  entitltil  to  an  honoralile  iK-ipiittal.  .Ah  thin^;^ 
rest  I  Khonid  Mtill  way  *Nnt.  prnnn,'  There  ;tre  variouH  faetn  that 
M'etn  ineonNiHtent  with  her  intwN-eiiee,  Init  theru  arc  likcwiMi 
wveiiil  e^iuaily  in<'onMistent  with  ^ruilt ;  and  tlu-re  Immii^  no  diix>(>t 
evidence  a^iiinnt  her  thai  can  Ih>  rcjicd  npon,  there  in  (piite  a 
F«iitlici>-iit  dejrree  of  douht  to  incline  the  scale   in   favor  of  the 


areiiM"'!.      I   had  n  I 


onj<  cnnverxatioM  n|M)n  the  ^^nhject  the  other 


day  w'rtlj  Mr.  Justice'  Hayley,  who  not  oidy  diwipproves  of  the 
proceecilifi'^s,  and  wvm  that  if  she  had  lM>en  trinl  Itefore  liirn  lie 
would  .Iwi'it  «ji(»  have  directed  the  jury  to  »c(|uit,  lait  declares 
that  he  In  jt'vcs  in  his  conscience  that  she  is  not  guilty.  His 
M'ntinienf^  heiii;;  known,  the  Chancellor  has  kept  him  away  from 
the  House  (»f  L^trds  as  nuich  as  pos'^il)li>.  [  believe  he  has  not 
Iwcn  there  ahove  three  (»r  foiu*  days,  (larrow  and  Hest  he  finds 
riuich  more  useful  assessors.  However,  I  nmst  not  abuse  Best, 
as  we  are  very  jrood  friends,  and  his  eldest  son  is  eoininjj;  to  me 


as  a  pupi 


i 


I  i 


Goo<l  ni;i;ht.     I  will  add  a  P.  S.  to-morrow  at  Westminster. 


I"'i 


398 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1820. 


WestminHtcr,  hnlf-pnst  throo. 

Contents,  121 ;  Non-contentn,  l)a=28  nmjority  lor  the  second 
reading. 

The  House  hns  just  dividwl,  and  sucli  is  the  result.  From 
the  boastings  of  the  ministerialists  1  firmly  expeetwl  the  majority 
would  have  exceeded  forty.  I  saw  Copley  immediately  after, 
who  told  me  this  was  a  great  blow  to  them.  What  is  to  be  done 
no  one  knows.  The  House  is  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning 
at  ten.  The  O])position  still  talk  of  seceding,  thinking  it  for 
their  advantage  that  the  Bill  should  Ik;  sent  down  to  the  Commons. 
Some  talk  of  a  prorogation,  others  of  an  address  according  to 
Lord  Ellenborough's  plan.  I  have  just  seen  the  Dukes  of  York 
and  Wellington  ride  by.  They  look  very  nuich  down  in  the 
mouth. 

Westminster,  Friday,  2  r.  «.,  November  10, 1820. 

The  Bill  is  at  ar.  end.  The  House  divided  on  the  third 
reading. 

Contents,  108 ;  Non-contents,  99=9  majority  for  the  third 
reading.  Bill  read  third  time.  Lord  Liverpool  then  rose  and 
said  that,  though  he  believed  the  Queen  'guilty  and  the  Bill 
proper,  he  could  not  think  of  pressing  it  with  so  small  a  majority 
and  with  such  a  state  of  public  sentiment  upon  the  subject.  He 
therefore  moved  that  the  Bill  be  further  taken  into  consideration 
this  day  six  months.  Lord  Grey  animadverted  with  great 
severity  on  the  conduct  of  Ministers  in  pressing  the  Bill  so  far, 
when  they  knew  they  could  not  carry  it,  and  having  a  vote  of 
adultery  against  the  Queen,  although  she  was  to  remain  the  wife 
of  the  King. 

The  Duke  of  Montrose  opposed  I..ord  Liverpool's  motion  on 
the  ground  that  the  Bill  ought  to  be  passed  at  all  events. 

Motion  then  put  and  carried  without  division,  and  House 
adjourned  to  November  23d,  when  Parliament  will  be  prorogued. 

The  Queen  was  down  to-day,  and  hac  just  passed  with  four- 
fifths  of  London  at  her  heels.  A  general  illumination  will  take 
place  in  the  evening,  and  dangerous  riots  are  apprehended. 


1820.] 


IB  PXJT  UP  AT  BROOKS's. 


89» 


Temple,  Wedne«day,  Novnmber  23, 1820,  midnight. 

My  dear  Brother: —  ...  I  have  been  laboring  at  my 

desk  for  hix  hours,  and  am  quite  stupified  by  the  drudgery  I 

have  gone  through.     However,  you  express  a  wish  to  hear  from 

me  and  I  do  not  know  when  I  shall  be  in  a  fitter  state  to  write 

to  you. 

.  .  .  My  cabriolet  is  to  cost  one  hundred  and  twenty  guineas. 

It  advances  rather  slowly,  and  will  not  be  launched  for  near  a 
month  to  come.  Copley  is  the  only  other  legal  man  with  a  car- 
riage of  this  sort.  I  have  had  many  warnings  not  to  follow  him 
in  his  rattimj.  By  the  bye,  I  shall  be  a  most  notorious  rat  when 
I  go  over,  for  I  am  now  actually  up  at  Brooks's.  Scarlett  pro- 
posed me  about  a  fortnight  ago.  Seconded  by  Lord  Duncannon,. 
the  whipper-in  of  the  party.  Scarlett  says  he  told  Lord  Dun- 
cannon  he  could  answer  for  me  as  much  us  for  any  lawyer,  but 
after  what  he  had  seen  he  declined  to  say  more.  There  are 
between  thirty  and  forty  on  the  books  before  me  and,  v.nless  a 
considerable  number  of  these  are  blackballed,  my  turn  will  not 
come  till  Loi'd  knows  when.  Beaumont,  the  member  for  North- 
umberland, was  last  admitted  and  the  club  is  full.  There  will 
be  no  more  balloting  till  May.  It  has  caused  some  astonishment 
that  I  should  take  so  decisive  and  imprudent  a  step.  I  do  not 
think  myself  that  there  is  any  imprudence  in  it.  Had  I  been 
flourishing  and  rising  into  public  notice,  there  would.  As  things 
now  stand  I  have  not  the  remotest  chance  to  be  promoted  either 
by  Whigs  or  Tories.  You  need  not  mention  the  matter  to  our 
father,  or  you  can  give  it  a  pleasant  turn,  by  saying  that  the 
Whigs  will  come  in  at  last  and  givo  me  some  great  appointment. 

Lord  Castlereagh  has  declared  that  nothing  shall  remove  him 
but  an  earthquake.  I  think  nevertheless  that  he  is  in  some  jeop- 
ardy. The  Whigs  would  not  come  in  the  first  change,  but  they 
may  have  their  turn.  Grey  is  more  popular  than  he  has  been 
since  1806. 

Immediately  after  I  had  closed  my  last,  I  met  Copley  coming 
from  the  House  of  Lords.  He  gave  me  a  retainer  in  an  action 
against  the  hundred,  expecting  his  windows  to  be  broken.  Unfor- 


!' 

f 

\ 

m 

! 

; 

1       , 

\ 

1 

'   1 
''   1 

'      1 

1              ■ 

. 

1      '• 

!  i! 

ll 

i: 


'iil 


\  '!i5 
I  11 


■\^"l% 


400  LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL.  [1820. 

tunately  for  luc,  however,  he  had  not  a  pane  smashed.  He  said 
they  had  not  resolved  to  give  up  the  Bill  till  the  night  before. 
Pie  was  much  vexed  that  it  had  not  been  allowed  to  pass  the 
Lords  so  that  they  might  at  least  have  had  a  iriumph  of  ten 
••days.  The  Chancellor  said  Not  content  to  Lord  LiveriWi's 
motion  to  take  it  into  further  consideration  this  day  six  months. 
He  mentioned  this  to  Best,  who  told  me.  I  have  likewise  heard 
■on  good  authority  that  he  was  so  mean  as  to  call  upon  Jjeach 
and  desire  him  to  communicate  the  fact  to  the  King.  He  might 
have  done  it  himself,  for  he  was  with  the  King  as  soon  as  the 
House  rose.  The  Duchess  of  Gloucester  said  to  Scarlett :  *  My 
sister  Sophia  and  I  were  sitting  with  the  King,  when  a  person 
came  in  and  mcntionetl  the  fate  of  the  Bill.  The  King  took  it 
very  quietly,  and  was  beginning  to  talk  on  some  indifferent  sub- 
ject, when  the  Chancellor  and  Ijord  Liverpool  were  announced. 
Sophia  and  I  then  thought  it  right  to  withdraw,  and  we  met  the 
Ministers  on  the  staircase  looking  very  disconsolate.' 

They  had  intended  to  pass  the  Bill,  and  get  rid  of  it  by  a  pro- 
rogation, but  Lord  Liverpool  got  scent  of  the  Queen's  petition, 
to  be  presented  by  Lord  Dacre,  that  she  might  be  heard  by  her 
counsel.  This  could  not  have  been  refused  had  they  gone  on 
with  the  Bill,  and  Brougham  was  prepared  with  a  speech,  to 
which  all  his  former  were  cakes  and  ginger-bread.  Lord  Liver- 
pool got  rid  of  the  speech  by  at  once  withdrawing  the  Bill. 


WestminBter,  Thursday. 

Parliament  prorogued  to  23d  January  without  any  speech 
from  the  throne.  As  soon  as  the  Speaker  took  the  chair,  Den- 
man  rose  with  a  message  from  the  Queen,  but  co  instanti  the 
Black  Rod  knocked  at  the  door,  and  the  Speaker  marched  off 
to  the  House  of  Lords. 

The  absence  of  any  speech  from  King  or  Commissioners  will 
make  a  great  sensation.  The  King  is  more  inveterate  against 
his  wife  than  ever,  and  Ministers  are  pledged  to  him  to  do  any- 
thing they  can  to  crush  her.    The  allowance  to  be  proposed  is 


1820.] 


pur.r,  (iiKisTMAS  holidays. 


401 


stated  to  be  £12,000  a  year.    They  say  they  shall  have  great 
majorities  in  both  Houses  to  support  them. 

Temple,  December  28, 1320 

My  dear  Brother: —  ...  I  rejoice  very  much  at  your 
becoming  a  member  of  the  Albyn.*  I  strongly  advise  you  to 
take  a  part  in  the  business  and  politics  of  the  kingdom  of  Fife. 

.  .  .  Your  Christmas  holidays  cannot  be  more  dull  than  mine. 
I  pass  the  morning  in  arbitraticms,  the  most  irksome  of  all 
employments,  and  the  evening  in  absolute  solitude.  From  six 
till  twelve  not  a  soul  enters  my  chambers,  and,  shut  out  from  the 
noise  of  the  street,  I  might  suppose  myself  in .  one  of  the 
Hebrides.  .  .  . 

I  continue  to  go  on  very  indifferently.  During  the  Westmin- 
ster sittings  Scarlett  was  absent  three  days,  leading  a  great  cause 
about  a  fire  insurance  in  the  Common  Pleas.  I  held  his  briefs. 
This  was  the  time  when  you  saw  my  name  in  the  newspapers. 
In  one  case  I  was  opposed  to  Denman.  I  gave  him  a  consider- 
able licking  and  got  the  verdict  from  him.  I  am  confir.^ed  in 
the  opinion  I  have  always  entertained  in  the  lowest  ebb  of  my 
fortunes,  that  with  opportunity  and  practice  I  should  make  a  very 
tolerable  leader.  My  great  disadvantage  has  lieen  my  extreme 
nervousness.  Unless  I  am  sufficiently  excited  to  get  rid  of  this, 
I  am  not  in  the  possession  of  my  faculties.  But  the  habit  of 
leading  would  soon  give  me  sangfroid.  The  misfortune  is  that 
occasions  recur  so  rarely  that  all  the  progress  made  is  lost  in  the 
intervals.  Denman  goes  on  like  a  house  on  fire.  Every  stray 
leading  brief  is  attracted  to  him.  He  is  the  ruin  of  my  pros- 
pects at  Guildhall,  but.  it  is  damnum  absque  injurid.  He  is  a  fine 
fellow  and  I  do  not  grudge  him  his  success.  Brougham  does 
not  take ;  he  had  but  little,  and  he  did  it  badly. 

I  have  launched  my  cabriolet  and  it  is  very  much  admired. 
However,  I  like  riding  on  horseback  much  better,  and  I  shall 
get  mounted  again  as  scon  as  possible. 


*  A  club  in  Edinburgh. 
VOL  I. 


17* 


iw 

v.fh 

"\f 

:i. 


i 


vji;;'; 


i 


ii 


402  LIFE  OK   LORD  CAMPBELL.  [1821. 

Young  Scarlott  expressed  a  wihIi  that  I  would  visit  them  ut 
Abingcr  during  the  holidays,  whieh  I  without  hesitation  declined. 
No  hint  of  the  sort  was  thrown  out  by  the  father.  You  will 
approve  of  my  anticipating  your  advice.  No  good  could  arise 
from  such  intercourse  at  present. 

I  amuse  myself  by  resuming  my  Italian  studies.  My  friend 
Signor  Moscatti  is  now  in  London.  He  is  with  me  every  morn- 
ing at  eight,  and  continues  with  me  two  or  three  hours. 

I  dined  at  Ha(jkney  on  Christmiw  Day.  I  there  learned  a  very 
interesting  piece  of  intelligence,  that  there  are  two  steamboats 
actually  building  to  ply  between  Ticith  and  London,  to  be  ready 
in  June.  They  arc  to  be  400  tons  burthen,  and  to  cost  £12,000 
apiece ;  to  carry  150  passengers,  or  more,  for  each  is  to  have  150 
beds.    So  you  see  we  are  now  next-door  neighbors. 


Toraple,  January  2, 1821. 

My  dear  Father  : —  ...  I  never  knew  London  so  dull. 
It  is  deserted  as  in  the  month  of  September.  There  are  not  even 
people  enough  in  town  to  circidatea  rumor. 

Has  George  ever  connrmnicatt'd  to  you  a  plan  I  mentioned  to 
him,  which  might  amuse  you  and  would  greatly  interest  us — that 
you  should  become  your  own  l)iogra])her  ?  I  wish  particularly 
to  have  portraits  and  anecdotes  of  some  of  the  characters  that  I 
remember  in  my  childhood — par  cxnnple,  old  Kilmai-on,  Watty 
Lumsden,  Jemmy  Arnot,  &e.  St.  Andrews  with  the  old  pro- 
fessors would  be  a  rich  field,  and  then  we  should  have  a  taste  of 
Wilkes,  and  the  King,  when  you  come  to  Westminster. 

I  keep  up  my  spirits  tolerably  by  banishing  reflection  as  much 
as  possible.  It  is  not  to  be  denied  that  I  am  going  down  in  the 
world.  But  it  would  be  too  much  to  expect  to  see  Edenwood 
House  and  my  reputation  rising  at  the  same  time. 

We  meet  again  on  the  10th.  We  must  have  some  imporfamt 
change  in  the  constitution  of  our  court,  for  the  puisne  judges 
have  refused  to  do  the  business  of  the  term  any  longer  out  of 
term,  and  it  cannot  be  done  in  term  without  new  judges.    I  am 


1821.] 


PROPOHAL  TO   BUY    A    K[I"K    KUKKIIOM). 


403 


not  yet  so  fallen  uh  to  become  a  puitint'  judgo,  were  the  situation 
offered  to  me — an  event  as  improbable  an  that  I  should  have  thn 
offer  of  a  bishopric. 

Tomple,  Sunday  night,  February  11, 1821. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  I  very  readily  agree  to  your 
proposal  to  purchase  a  Fife  freehold.  Any  direct  gratification 
from  this  I  hardly  expect,  but  it  will  give  ine  sincere  pleasure  if 
it  will  gititify  you.  I  will  have  £1000  at  your  command  for  the 
purpose,  and  let  us  be  enrolled  together.  But  if  you  would 
rather  lay  out  the  money  in  furninhing  your  house,  or  in  your 
improvements,  this  application  of  it  will  Ikj  equally  agreeable  to 
me.  The  prospect  of  being  able  to  assist  you  in  any  plans  yon 
may  form  is  almost  the  only  bright  scene  that  futurity  unfoUls 
to  me.  Notwithstanding  the  badness  of  the  times,  I  shall  be 
able  to  remit  you  the  money  without  any  inconvenience.  Perhaps 
when  I  become  Attorney-General  the  county  may  choose  me  its 
representative.  There  is  notJiing  too  bas(!  for  the  freeholders  of 
a  Scotch  county.  Were  I  in  Parliament,  there  is  no  project  I 
should  support  more  earnestly  than  the  reformation  of  the  repre- 
sentation in  Scotland.  The  jjresent  system  has  u  inont  odious  and 
degrading  efl'ect  both  at  home  and  abroad.  The  marked  separa- 
tion between  the  higher  and  the  middling  classes,  which  prevails 
in  Scotland  to  such  an  extent,  and  there  hindei's  and  embitters 
social  intercourse,  arises  chiefly  from  the  freehold  qualifications. 
What  is  still  woi-se,  the  county  members  must  almost  of  necessity 
support  the  Minister  for  the  time  being,  or  lose  their  scats.  An 
unspeakable  reproach  is  thus  brought  ui)on  the  country.  The 
very  worst  possible  number  of  electors  is  between  60  and  300. 
If  the  voters  are  very  low,  and  will  take  five  or  ten  guineas  a 
man,  as  in  the  English  boroughs,  the  evil  is  considerably  miti- 
gated, because  a  man  may  hold  the  seat,  and  act  upon  indepen- 
dent principles ;  but  if  they  look  only  to  government  patronage, 
the  members  are  inevitably  dependent  on  the  Court.  I  shall 
sacrifice  my  qualification  with  much  satisfaction  when  I  see  3000 
voters  in  the  county  of  Fife.     If  you  look  at  the  late  divisions, 


(ii 


'mi 


m 


'mm 


4M 


LIFE  OF  LOUD  CAMPHKLL. 


[1821 


you  will  find  a  majority  of  English  county  menibors  in  the  minor- 
ity Of  Scotch,  there  arc  none  besides  Maulc  and  Lord  Archi- 
bald— a  greater  show  of  independence  than  we  can  always  botwt 
of.  But  I  am  going  on  as  if  I  were  writing  an  article  for  the 
'  Edinburgh  fieview.' 


Temple,  Sunday  night, 

February  26, 1821,  twelve  o'clock. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  I  have  been  fagging  till  I  am 
as  stupid  as  an  owl,  and  I  believe  the  best  thing  I  could  do  for 
you  as  well  as  myself  would  l)e  to  tumble  into  bed.  However, 
I  know  not  when  I  may  be  in  a  better  trim  for  writ'ng. 

I  have  at  last  accomplished  my  call  in  Spring  Gai-dcns,  and  It 
passed  off  without  embarnissnxmt.  The  family  came  to  town 
the  week  before  last.  ...  I  afterwards  called  on  Scarlett  him- 
self, and  rode  with  him  in  the  I*ark.  I  then  took  a  chop  at  the 
Verulam  and  have  since  been  crushing  all  thoughts  of  love  and 
tenderness  by  writing  about  contingent  remainders  and  executory 
devises. 

I  have  nothing  more  to  say  to  you.  Everything  is  very  dull. 
The  Queen  is  quite  gone  by.  The  poor  Whigs  are  in  despair. 
Scarlett  fully  expected  ere  now  to  have  been  James  Lord  Abiiigor, 
Baron  Abinger,  of  Abiuger  in  the  County  of  Surrey.  However, 
he  affects  to  say  that  a  man's  happiness  depends  upon  the  state 
of  his  digestion,  and  not  the  station  he  fills. 

Brougham's  character  has  been  very  much  damaged.  His  i)lan 
certainly  was  (in  Lord  Castlereagh's  phrase)  *to  keep  the  King 
and  Queen  both  open.'  He  thought  he  should  be  able  to  make; 
a  tolerable  bargain  for  the  Queen,  and  to  acquire  such  favor  with 
the  King  as  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  a  new  administration. 
As  a  politician  he  is  looked  upon  with  distrust  by  all  parties. 

Dennian  is  considered  a  man  of  very  pure  honor.  He  gave 
me  the  other  day  the  history  of  the  Queen's  answers.  He  him- 
self wrote  the  answer  ^to  the  Nottingham  address,  which  was 
extremely  moderate  and  proper.  But  it  displeased  that  old  fool 
Dr.  Parr,  who  put  in  Fellowes,  a  crack-brained  Socinian  minis- 


1821.] 


THE  COUNSEL   IN  THE  (jUKKN  8  TRIAL. 


406 


ter,  and  from  his  pen  flowed  the  answers,  and  the  famous  letter 
to  the  King,  which  have  done  her  so  much  mischief. 

Scarlett  insinuates  that  if  he  hod  defended  the  Queen  he  would 
have  turned  out  the  Ministers.  I  think  I  told  you  that  the  Queen 
oskeil  him  to  defend  her,  and  that  Brougham  threatened  to  throw 
up  his  brief.  J^awyers  on  the  same  side  in  politics  always  hate 
each  other  nmch  more  bitterly  than  their  antagonists. 

Copley  becomes  very  insolent  in  his  triumph.  He  said  to  me 
the  other  day :  'What  chiefly  delights  me  is  that  we  remain  in, 
not  from  being  liked,  but  because  you  Whigs  ai'e  hated — just  as 
one  has  more  pleasure  from  succeeding  in  a  cause  by  a  piece  of 
roguery  than  upon  the  merits.'    This  is  a  very  characteristic 


Westminster,  Monday,  February  26, 1821. 

Denman  dined  yesterday  with  the  Queen.  To  show  what 
weight  is  to  be  given  to  the  polenta  scene— during  dinner  she 
had  something  nice  on  her  plate,  and  she  said,  'Mr.  Denman, 
let  me  give  you  some  of  this,'  and  she  put  some  of  it  from  her 
own  plate  on  his.  She  continues  in  high  spirits.  The  subscrip- 
tion will  not  do,  and  I  fancy  mIig  will  even  vouchsafe  to  receive 
her  annuity. 

The  votes  on  the  Catholic  question  have  been  calculated  at 
289  on  each  side.  Canning  is  expected  back  at  Easter.  Lord 
Bathurst's  son  told  me  Ministers  still  wish  very  much  to  get  in 
Peel. 

Bobert  Scarlett  says  his  mother  has  a  small  party  on  Wednes- 
day night,  and  that  she  desired  him  to  invite  mc.  I  shall  go, 
although  it  would  be  more  prudent  to  stay  away. 

Those  who  come  to  conquer,  leave  to  fly. 


m 


Temple,  March  10, 1821. 

My  deab  Father  ; —  ...  I  start  this  evening  by  the  mail 
as  usual.  Mr.  Cooper  went  yesterday  and  is  by  this  time  at  the 
receipt  of  custom.  .  .  .  Politics  have  died  away.    The  Catholic 


\M  lit 

i  lillt    i 

i  vwff 


•106 


LIFE  OP   IX)RI)  OAMIMIRM,. 


[1821. 


question  even  excites  little  interest.  The  Cntholics  are  very  con- 
fident, but  no  one  can  tell  the  rcnult.  The  King  is  certainly 
going  to  Ireland,  and  may  very  likely  visit  Scotland.  He  will 
in  that  case  no  doubt  repair  to  the  banks  of  the  Eden.  T  wish 
you  had  a  John  Knox  to  give  him  some  good  advice. 

Copley  swoggers  now  very  much.  He  says  that  from  the 
time  the  green  bag  wum  laid  on  the  table  till  a  short  time  lK<forc 
the  meeting  of  Parliament,  he  had  no  notion  that  MiniHtcrH 
oould  stand,  but  now  he  conHidcrn  thum  immortal.  He  iKWHtH 
of  the  8|)eoial  favor  voucliHafctl  to  them  by  Provident^',  for,  if 
the  Bill  had  either  been  lost  on  the  second  reading,  or  had  been 
carried  by  so  large  a  niajority  as  to  go  down  to  the  rommons,  in 
either  cose  they  were  ruined. 

He  was  yesterday  laughing  at  the  Whig»  for  being  why  i»f  the 
Radicals,  and  trying  by  their  moderation  to  preserve  the  good 
opinion  of  the  King,  observing  that  their  only  chance  was  to 
force  themselves  in  on  the  shoulders  of  the  people. 

Campbell. — Had  you  come  into  the  House  on  the  popular  side, 
what  a  firebrand  you  would  have  been ! 

Scarlett, — He  would  have  retainetl  his  name  of  Jacobin 
Copley. 

Solicitor- General. — That  is  a  calumny  lately  invented. 

Scarlett. — It  is  the  name  I  well  remember  your  being  called 
by,  before  you  went  over. 

Tierney  has  resigned  the  leaderehip  of  the  Opposition,  and  the 
party  is  now  com[)ietely  disorganized.  There  was  no  quarrel  or 
disgust  on  the  occasion.  Tierney  gets  old,  and  has  l)ecome  very 
infirm.  Unfortunately  there  is  no  one  who  will  be  recognized 
as  leader.  If  Lord  John  Russell  displays  a  motlerate  share  of 
sense  and  talent,  he  will  be  the  fittest  person.  But  it  is  a  matter 
of  no  great  consequence.  Even  should  the  Whigs  take  Copley's 
advice  and  become  factious  and  turbulent,  they  have  no  chance 
against  the  settled  influence  of  the  Crown.  If  they  wish  for 
place,  they  had  better  try  for  Court  favor,  and  outbid  their 
antagonists  in  slavishness  and  profligacy. 

For  my  own  part  I  feel  no  regret  at  belonging  to  the  Liberals 


1«21.] 


SUa'RHHPUI.    RKNKH'AI.  OF   1II8  SUIT. 


407 


<liMhcnrtcn!ng  as  their  |)roH|)cctM  rimy  l)c,  uiid  I  Hhould  adopt  the 
snmc  party  had  I  to  chooftc  again.  I  hniie  to  get  through  life 
without  dishonor,  and  m  for  the  rcHt  what  nignifieH  it  ?  I  am 
<juite  reconciletl  to  <]iMap|)ointnientM  and  mortification,  and  they 
now  produce  little  effect  ui>on  inc,  or  rather,  from  a  settled 
apathy,  I  meet  with  none.  But  I  am  breaking  my  reitolutioD. 
I  ho|)e  to  be  able  to  write  you  something  more  agreeable  from 
the  circuit. 

Temple,  May  19,  1821. 

My  dkau  Brotiiku: —  ...  I  was  at  a  very  brilliant  rout 
InHt  night  in  Spring  Gardens.  T  never  saw  ho  many  pretty  women 
in  one  houM.'.  I  nee<l  not  add  that  the  mmpany  was  by  no  meauH 
oxclusively  legal,  for,  generally  Hiwaking,  the  wives  and  daugh- 
ters of  lawyers  are  not  by  any  means  to  InMwt  of.  Barristers  do 
not  marry  their  mistresses  so  frequently  as  they  used  to  do,  but 
they  seldom  nin  prmlucw  a  woman  that  a  man  uui  take  under  his 
arm  '.vith  any  credit.  I  was  so  nmch  exeitetl  that  when  I  went 
to  IxhI  (as  our  father  says)  '  I  did  not  shut  an  eye  tue  whole  night.' 
From  want  of  excitement,  I  sometimes  can  with  difficulty  keep 
myself  awake  in  the  daytime,  and  I  think  I  could  doze  day  and 
night  for  a  week  together.  Of  late  I  have  suffered  much  more 
from  torpor  than  watchfulness,  and  in  a  few  hours  my  spirita 
will  again  sink  below  zem. 


Temple,  May  31,1821. 

Dear  GEonoE : — I  am  astonished  beyond  measure  that  I  do 
not  hear  from  you  or  our  father.  I  expected  great  pleasure  iu 
giving  you  an  account  of  the  altered  aspect  of  my  own  affairs. 

I  may  almost  pronounce  myself  the  accepted  lover  of  Miss 
Scarlett. 

I  will  most  gladly  tell  you  all  particulars  if  you  express  any 
desire  to  know  them.  I  am  not  in  anything  to  be  called  high 
spirits.  I  can  hardly  get  any  sleep,  and  I  have  still  a  great  degree 
of  anxiety  on  my  mind.  I  am  always  afraid  of  awakening  out 
of  a  pleasant  dream. 


If 


lij  ii ' 


llf 

ii'i; 


M 


400 


Liri:  or  lord  camprell. 


[1821. 


I  hiwl  not  hiiitMl  to  Purki*,'*  Tiiti(T(!(l,  or  anyone  cIm>,  tlint  [ 
ever  thought  of  renewing  my  luldreHMeM,  and  you  iiru  tho  only 
hutnun  l)eing  to  whom  I  have  mentionetl  my  good  fortune. 

Tompla,  Jiin«  ft,  l«2l. 

Dkar  Oforok: —  .  .  .  TIuih  fur  thingH  pr(K'e<>(l  very  proe*- 
|H!rouNly.  I  JMHt  enelow!  you  u  note  from  Mrx.  H<'arlett  to  nhow 
you  the  fiMiting  on  which  we  are.  Thirt  wiih  on  Haturday.  We 
met  in  Kenttington  (iardeuH.  i'eU>r,  the  youngi>Ht  Uiy,  uicddi- 
Itanied  them.  VVe  had  a  very  (htlightful  walk,  you  ntay  HUp|Hme, 
The  l)irdH  tumg  with  |M>culiar  HwiH>tneHH,  and  the  air  wa«  more 
than  onlinarily  frenh  and  Inihuy,  in  compliment  to  the  (x^tiHion. 
On  Sunday  1  dined  in  New  Street — a  |Mirty  of  |)oliticianM.  I  wtw 
the  only  guest  not  an  M.  P.  TIiIh  Ih  the  firHt  time  I  wum  ever 
formally  introducxnl  to  MiU!kint4)Hh,  although  1  hud  iNjfore  met 
him  cuMually  in  Mociety.  In  ttiking  leave  in  the  evening  he  tutid 
he  should  Im;  extremely  glad  to  cultivate  my  tu'quaintuuee.  liiH 
talk  Ih  by  far  the  hcHt  of  any  man  now  going.  Sir  John  New- 
port was  there,  a  very  agreeable  gentlemanlike  old  man.  .  .  . 
Altogether  it  wiw  a  very  huppy  evening. 

Yesterday  wjw  the  la«t  day  of  term,  and  I  was  in  court  till  a 
late  hour.     This  evening  I  accompany  the  Scarletts  to  the  operu. 


Tiiaple  June9, 1821, 

Dear  George  : —  ...  I  have  already  given  you  an  account 
of  our  walk  in  Kensington  Gardens  on  Saturday,  and  the  dinner 
on  Sunday.  Since  then  I  have  l)een  in  New  Street  daily,  and 
sometimes  twice  a  day,  and  everything  han  procoede<l  to  my 
heart's  desire.  On  Tuesday  I  attendctl  her  to  the  opera,  and  ns 
we  could  not  get  a  box  we  went  to  the  pit,  which  this  season  has 
not  been  unfashionable.  ... 

I  have  not  yet  said  a  word  upon  the  subject  to  Scarlett,  but  I 
must  write  to  him  to-morrow.  There  seems  no  rational  ground 
to  doubt  that  the  union  will  take  place  after  the  circuit.    I  might 


*  Afterwards  Lord  Wensleydale. 


1821.] 


L»rrrEii  fkom  dr.  cami>uell. 


400 


hnvti  fiiitHl  lM>tt»r  tliv  t'ornii>r  year  if  I  hnd  tipplicd  directly  to 
the  yoiiiig  lady.  .  .  . 

lVrhu|M  it  may  In>  iw  wt'ii  for  iim  that  it  did  y^n  oft'  hut  yuar, 
UM  it  riiuy  Und  to  a  niotr  luHtiiig  ha|>|>iiu>HH  from  the  difficultivH  it 
huM  hud  to  f>iirotiiiti>r.  Xotliiii^  («>rtainly  (tin  Im>  mori'  auri|ti(nouii 
than  my  prt>M>nt  |>roH|H>rtM.  S'ltiii;;  aside  all  ctithiiHiaMm  and  [>ar- 
tiality  I  know  that  nhc  in  a  mont  (>xi|iiiHit«>  creature,  and,  indc|icn- 
dontly  of  her  personal  ehaniiH,  she  Uw  a  hignly  eultivuted 
underHtandin)(  and  a  most  retlned  taste. 

And  now,  my  dear  brother,  I  ho{M>,  for  onee,  y«iu  do  regret 
that  you  have  s|N>iled  me  hy  allowing  me  to  make  you  the  de{)U8- 
itory  of  my  sentiments.  I  shall  Ik-  glad  smm  tu  Ih'  your  confidant 
on  a  (timilar  iKHiision. 

I  have  got  your  Indian  muslin  in  safe  keeping.  Have  you  any 
thoughts  of  making  a  present  of  any  part  of  it  to  anyone?  (iod 
hloM  you. 

Ever  yours  most  affectionately, 

J.  C. 


vm 


"I 


LE'rrKIl  FKOM  TIIK  HEV.  DR.  CIAMPBELL  TO  MISS  SCARLETT. 


Cupar,  June  14,1821. 

My  dear  Madam  : — Permit  me  to  oxpresK  to  you  the  happi- 
ness I  fiH'l  in  being  informwl  by  my  son  John  that  he  hopes  to 
have  the  goo<1  fortune  to  obtain  y<mr  hand.  Tt  ha^  l)een  the 
ardent  wish  of  my  heart  to  see  him  happily  unitnl  in  marriage 
with  an  obje<'t  every  way  worthy  of  his  affections,  and  this  wish 
I  trust  is  about  to  be  uccomplishcd. 

I  shall  look  forward  with  impatience  to  the  moment  when  I 
shall  see  you  under  my  roof,  and  give  you  my  blessing.  You 
will  find  us  a  family  of  love.  I  have  been  the  most  fortunate 
of  fathers.  A  saint  in  heaven  left  me  seven  children.  They  are 
all  alive,  all  virtuous,  all  dutiful  and  affectionate.  Of  my  son 
John  it  will  easily  be  believed  that  I  should  be  a  little  proud ; 
but  it  may  seem  extraordinary,  though  I  can  protest  it  with  sin- 
cerity, that  from  his  earliest  years  I  may  almost  say  that  he  he» 

VOL.  u  18 


m. 


i. 
iill 


410 


Lirr.  or  i/>iii>  cami>iiki.i,. 


[1821. 


never  given  iit<>  on**  nioint'iitV  iinniMiiifw.  IIi>  who  Iiun  lM>«>t)  m 
g<KHl  a  Hitii  iukI  a  linithiT  I  Iio|h>  will  |>n)vi<  ii^uully  (>X(>iii|»lary 
ill  all  the  rclatioiiri  of  (|otii(>Mti<i  lit'c 

I  will  I'oiif'cHM  to yoii  that  I  am  <hartu<><l  to  hiar  iVoiii  him  that 
you  art'  dcHtrixUil  tVniii  our  flan.  I  dari'  Miy  wv  arc>  coiiMiiiH,  and  if 
you  have  an  oM  maiilni  aunt,  hIic  and  I  could,  I  hav«>  no  douht, 
make  out  the  exact  d«>^n><>  of  our  i'(>latioiiMhi|i.  At  all  uveiitH  I 
truHt  wo  kIuiII  hcmui  Im'  (•oiiii('<'t«><l  l»y  the  teiKlercHt  of  tii"*.  I  <iin 
only  |iray  to  II«>av«'n  to  xhower  down  the  choiceHt  IdeHHiti^H  on 
your  union.  Before  iny  eyen  are  clow'tl  I  ho|M?  to  fold  your  ehil- 
dn'ii  to  my  heart.     Kxeiine  a  fond  old  man. 

lielievu  him  to  Im>,  with  all  the  Nentimentr^  iMTotiiin^  so  .uispi- 
viourt  an  ui-euf^iiui, 

MoMt  tenderly  ami  faithfully  youiv, 

G.  Camimikm,. 

Tt>mj>lo  July  2(),  1821. 

My  DKAu  Fatiikh: —  ...  I  wnd  you  the  'Timen,'  which, 
vith  the  'Chronicle'  at  the  readinj;-r(M»m,  will  tell  you  all  I 
know  al<  Hit  the  Coron-ition  and  a  ^rcat  «leal  nxtre.  Hut  I  write 
you  a  line  or  two  according;  to  my  promise.  I  was  inside  the 
Hall  with  Mix.  and  Miss  Scarlett.  The  Duke  of  (ilouccstcr 
ottered  three  tickets  for  the  Itoval  l>ox  in  the  Ahhev,  and  after- 
M'ards  gave  a  choice  of  the  same  numher  of  tickets  for  the  Great 
ChamlM>rIain's  box  in  the  I  lull.  The  latter  were  preferred  ami, 
jw  Miss  Louise  declinc<l  jjoinj;,  I  was  ap|M>inted  to  attend  the  two 
other  ladies.  I  had  thus  tt»  provide  myself  with  a  Court  dress. 
If  you  had  seen  me  in  my  haji;  and  sword,  Howered  satin  waist- 
coat, S:v. !  I  was  provided  in  New  Street  with  lace  ruffles,  hag, 
buckles  and  sword,  so  I  had  only  to  provide  coat,  waistcoat  and 
inexpressibles.  S<\irlctt  himself  and  Itolwrt  likewise  hud  ticket**, 
but  for  a  difVerent  part  of  the  Hall.  I  was  invited  to  sleep  in 
New  Street  the  night  before.  We  went  to  bed  at  half-past  eleven 
and  rose  at  half-past  one.  We  got  into  the  carriage  exactly  at 
three  and  reached  the  Hall  soon  after  four.  For  all  the  rest  vidf 
*  Times  '  ami  *  Chronicle.'     Unfortunately,  just  before  the  return 


1821.] 


rf)RoNATIf)N   OK    KIMt   OKOItftR    IV. 


411 


of  thi!  |ii-(M'«>HMioii  iViHii  till'  AI>lH>y,  owiri^  tn  tli<>  iiiiolfmhlc  luttt 
(iiiimnI  hy  tlif  li;;Iilifiy;  of  the  <-iiii(llfM,  wliilt'  a  liri^lit  miiii  \m\t 
U|N)ri  lltT,  Mitrt  St'Eiilctt  lH>ntllli>  ho  iiiiwrll  thiit  I  WII.h  ulili^cM  (n 
cari'y  her  iiixl  Uw  inotlu'r  out,  iiikI  to  tnkc  llii-ni  ti»  the  hoiiM«*  oC 
a  huly  ill  I'uIikt  VuihI.  I  niyMcIf  ri>tiii'n<>«l  in  the  Mull.  At'l<*i' 
a  ^rcat  «Ii'mI  of  aiixifty  and  li'oul>lt>,  wiiit-h  I  hIioiiM  not  liki> 
attain  to  I'liroiiiitt'r,  I  p>t  tliciii  Mif'oly  lioiiir  iN'twrcti  h«>v<>ii 
nnd  v'mUt  in  tli<<  I'vcniii^.  Hut  I  am  very  ^lail  that  I  wi>nt. 
Tln'  «|M'«'t4irh'  I'oinrH  up  to  j'vitv  iKttion  I  niii  I'orin  of  earthly 
grandeur.  TIk'  Kiiij;  ii-rtainiy  playeil  the  part  ex<'ee<liiinly  well. 
llih  Weineaiior  throughout  the  <hiy  apiM'ared  to  ine  extremely 
^raeet'ul  aiul  (li^iiitie<l.  You  may  HUppoH<>  there  wiim  a  n)tihi(ler- 
ahle  MeiiHatioii  i»y  the  attempt  of  the  (^ueeii  to  hurnt  into  the 
Hall.  When  tli(>  pites  were  suddenly  eloHed,  and  there  was  u 
elaMhiii);  amon^  tho  hallR>rtrt  of  lM>efeaterM  ((uardin^  it,  a  whiHiK>r 
ran  that  if  was  tht;  (|ueen.  Vm'  a  lon^  while  I  did  not  lM>liev() 
that  thiH  waHM).  I  eould  not  Udiove  that,  apiiiiMt  all  propriety,  and 
apiinst  the  entreaties  that  I  know  were  employnl  to  disHiuuK'  her, 
tihe  really  would  tako  no  improper  a  step.  She  luuft  have  done 
hernelf  u  motiMtroUH  deal  of  mi^ciiief.  Slu;  wan  ipiite  juMtiHiHl 
in  elaiming  an  of  right  to  l)o  crowned,  and  the  teixleney  of  her 
protoHt  waH  all  in  her  favor.  But  to  insist  upon  attending  the 
eeremony  OS  *  first  tnob'  was  degrading  if  not  culpable.  Any 
passion  she  had  to  gratify  beyond  curiosity  was  a  bad  one.  \ 
sus{>c>ct  that  she  not  onlv  thought  to  s|)itc  her  husband,  but  that 
she  hoiK>d  there  woula  Imj  u  rising  in  her  support.  Had  the 
publii!  mind  been  in  the  state  in  which  it  was  three  months  ago, 
it  is  frightful  to  think  what  the  <'ons«'<|Ucnces  might  have  Iwen. 
The  King  has  gained  a  great  triumph  and  will  now  be  stronger 
than  «'ver. 

I  must  return  to  l)ricfs  and  declarations,  although  there  is  no 
great  pressure  in  this  way.  Business  has  been  entirely  suspended 
those  two  days,  and  generally  continues  to  dwindle.  But  1  shall 
hope  to  l)e  able  to  make  my  pot  boil. 

I  have  taken  a  furnished  house  in  Duke  Street,  Westminster, 
for  a  year.     It  is  small,  but  pleasantly  situated,  the  back  win- 


1  ;. 

■ . 

1, 

^1- 

1 ',, 

1 

it 

412 


LIFK  OF   i.<)KI>  t'A.Ml'HKIJ,. 


[1821. 


dows  looking  into  the  Park.  You  know  "NVcstniiuBter  much 
better  than  I  do,  therefore  you  will  understand  the  situation  of 
this  house  in  a  moment.  Duke  Street,  you  remember,  is  at  right 
angles  to  Great  George  Street,  running  paralk^l  with  the  east  side 
of  St.  James's  Park. 

Everything  proceeds  auspiciously,  and  I  hope  to  be  made 
completely  happy  about  the  8th  or  10th  of  September. 

My  love  to  all  round  you,  not  forgetting  my  dear  little  nephews 
and  nieces. 

Temple,  Sunday,  July  21, 1821. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  I  was  presented  to  the  Duke 
of  Gloucester  yesterday,  but  you  will  be  disappointed  if  you 
suppose  that  anything  much  worth  mentioning  took  place.  A 
dinner  in  New  Street  for  the  occasion,  as  I  told  you,  had  been 
arranged — a  small  party — H.  R.  H.,  General  Fitzroy,  husband 
of  the  late  Princess  Amelia,  and  his  present  wife,  Huskissou, 
Denison  the  member  for  Surrey  and  brother  of  the  Marchioness 
of  Conyngham,  Brougham,  Denman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scarlett,  the 
two  Miss  Scarletts,  Robert  and  myself.  The  Duke  came  without 
any  of  his  aides-de-camp  or  gentlemen.  He  was  very  good- 
humored  and  affable,  but  still  preserved  the  prince  of  the  blood. 
He  soon  gave  the  ladies  leave  to  sit  down,  but  we  gentlemen 
were  obliged  to  stand  till  dinner  was  announcetl.  He  then  led 
out  Mrs.  Scarlett,  she  having  taken  off  her  left-hand  glove. 
Scarlett  took  Mrs.  Fitzroy,  and  Miss  Scarlett  took  my  arm.  I 
should  have  stated  that  the  Duke  shook  hands  with  me,  and 
congratulated  me  on  my  approaching  happiness.  .  .  .  The  Duke's 
particular  conversation  with  me  was  chiefly  about  the  Oxford 
circuit.  At  dinner  we  had  the  common  topics  of  the  weather, 
the  Turkish  massacres  and  the  Coronation.  *  Mr.  Campbell, 
may  I  have  the  pleasure  to  drink  wine  with  you  ?  *  Sir,  if  you 
please.'  *  I  drink  sherry  always — take  what  wine  you  please.' 
*  I  will  take  a  glass  of  this  hock  if  your  Royal  Highness  pleases.' 
Bow — bow.  Huskisson  was  the  most  entertaining  person  at 
table.     He  is  a  very  clever  fellow.     I  was  surprised  to  observe 


1821.]      PRESKNTRD  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  GI-OUCE8TEB.  413 

the  case  with  whicli  Ijo  talked  of  liis  coiinciJtlons  lu  the  ewrly  part 
(A'  the  French  Ilcvoliition,  when  he  wjih  u  member  of  the  Jacobin 
dub  at  Parifl.  Brougluun  is  rather  down  in  the  mouth  at 
present.  His  (character  has  been  considerably  damaged  in  the 
Queen's  business.  His  explanations  were  very  unsatisfactory,  and 
he  does  not  so  well  an  he  did,  by  any  means,  either  in  the  House 
or  in  the  country.  After  the  lades  had  withdrawn,  I  observed 
an  instance  of  the  numner  in  which  persons  of  high  rank  are 
apt  to  be  misled.  The  Duke  said,  *  1  understand  the  law  allows 
a  woman  eleven  months  to  prmluce  a  legitimate  child  after  her 
husband's  death.  That  is  so,  is  it  not,  Sciu'lett  ? '  Scairlett,  not 
thinking  it  worth  while  to  contradic^t  him,  or  to  enter  into  any 
i'xplanation  on  the  subject,  said,  *  Yes,  sir,  I  believe  so.'  'Broug- 
Jiam?'  'Certainly,  sir.'  He  then  looked  at  me,  and  I  l)0wed 
assent.  Soon  ai'ter  we  came  upstairs,  he  took  Scarlett  into  a 
i'oruer  of  the  back  drawing-room,  and  kept  him  in  close  confer- 
ence above  an  liour.  By  this  time  all  the  other  guests  were 
gone.  He  shook  hands  with  us  all  and  retired,  and  would  not 
allow  Scarlett  even  to  conduct  him  to  the  stair-head.  We  found 
he  had  been  consulting  respecting  his  disputes  with  the  King. 
Before  the  Queen's  trial  he  wns  on  goml  terms  with  his  Majesty. 
Ho  wished  to  stay  away,  but  the  Duke  of  York  told  him  it  was 
the  King's  wish  that  all  the  princes  of  the  blood  should  attend, 
and  that  they  were  to  vote  according  to  their  (H)nsciences.  The 
Duke  of  Gloucester  took  a  very  moderate  part,  but  finally  gave 
a  vote  in  the  Queen's  favor.  The  King  took  mortal  ottence, 
and  forbade  him  the  Court.  He  told  the  Duchess  that,  as  she 
was  the  King's  favorite  sister,  he  by  no  mesms  wished  to  [)revent 
their  intercourse,  and  that  she  could  act  as  she  thought  right. 
She  said  she  would  never  appear  publicly  at  Court  without  her 
husband,  but  that  she  would  jnuvately  visit  her  brother  as  before. 
Tilings  continued  on  tliis  footing  till  the  Coronation.  The  Duke 
thoujrht  that  on  this  occasion  all  former  differences  would  be 
forgotten.  He  accordingly  walked  into  the  King's  robing  room 
with  the  rest  of  the  Royal  family,  ex[)ecting  a  cordial  reception. 
As  soon  as  he  approached,  the  King  turned  his  back  upon  him. 


414 


LIFE  OF  LOKD  CAMPBBLL. 


[1821. 


"When  the  Duke  had  to  do  homage  in  the  Abbey,  as  he  kiHyoil 
the  King's  luind  the  King  turnetl  UAvay  his  head ;  when  Ijo  was 
to  kiss  Ins  ehoeli,  he  drew  baek  and  hardly  allowed  liini  the 
8ahite  of  his  whisker;   and  he  positively  preventetl  liiiu  from 
toiK'liing  thecn'own,  whieh  ought  toliave  eompletiil  the  ceremonial. 
On  the  King's  health  being  given  at  the  banquet,  when  the 
Duke  rose  and  bowed  to  him,  he  again  turned  away  his  liead. 
The  Duke  next  day  stated  to  Scarlett  the  insults  he  had  met  with, 
and  they  agreed  that  he  ought  not  to  go  to  the  levfe  or  the  draw- 
ingroom.    He  accordingly  staye<l  away.    This  the  King  resents, 
and  is  more  angry  than  ever.     The  Dui;  de  Granunont,  Ambas- 
sador from  France,  is  to  give  a  grand  ball   in  honor  of  the 
Coronation,  and  the  King  has  ordered  letters  to  be  written  to  the 
Duke  of  Gloucester  and  the  Duke  of  Sussex,  tlesiring  that  they 
will  not  attend,  as  he  does  not  wish  to  meet  them.     The  Duke 
of  Gloucester  showed  Scarlett  his  letter  last  night.     The  matter 
is  to  be  made  public,  and  will  I  sui)])osc  appear  in  the  news- 
jjapers.     The  King  has  behaved  ecpially  ill  to  Prince  Leopold. 
Scarlett  was  dining  ch  J'amitle  at  Gloucester  House  the  day  of 
the  lev6e,  there  being  no  one  there  but  the  Princess  Augusta, 
and  the  Duke  of  Sussex  came  in  after  dinner,  exulting  very 
much  in  his  own  prudence  in  having  stayed  away,  as  the  King 
had  turned  his  back  on  Prince  Leopold.     The  Prince  wrote  to 
the  Duke  of  York,  requesting  that  it  inight  be  intimated  to  his 
Majesty  that  he  would  not  again  appear  at  Court  till  he  was 
assured  he  should  not  experience  such  treatment.     In  all  the 
interviews  the  Duchess  of  Gloucester  has  had  with  the  King, 
he  has  never  once  mentioned  the  Duke's  name.     These  anecdotes 
I  am  afraid  will  not  tend  greatly  to  raise  your  opinion  of  the 
magnanimity  of  our  gracious  sovereign.     He  continues  devotedly 
attached  to  Lady  Conyngham.     At  the  Coronation,  when  the 
Archibishop  had  put  the  ring  upon  his  finger,  he  kissed  it  and 
waved  his  hand  to  her.     My  paper  is  exhausted. 


1821.] 


MABKIAOE  AND  WEDDING  TOUR. 


415 


Sunday,  July  29,1821. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  .  .  .  You  cannot  overrate  nxy  good 
fortune.  I  have  constantly  fresh  reason  to  admire  and  esteem 
her. 

We  executed  the  settlement  yesterday.  You  must  sign  and 
seal  when  you  come  to  town.  I  at  present  look  forward  to  the 
8th  of  September  as  the  happy  day.  I  sL^ll  leave  Stafford  on 
Wednesday  evening,  and  reach  London  next  night,  when  I  hope 
you  will  be  waiting  to  meet  me.  We  will  go  down  to  Abinger 
on  Friday,  and  next  day  is  the  8th.  I  propose  immediately  to 
make  off  for  Dover.  I  mean  to  have  the  passport,  the  I'cence, 
&c.,  all  ready  before  I  leave  town  for  the  circuit.  I  shall  be 
dressed  in  a  blue  coat,  white  waistcoat,  and  white  trousers. 

They  will  expect  you  to  stay  with  them  some  time  at  Abinger, 
I  suppose  you  will  come  up  by  sea,  otherwise  you  might  easily 
take  Stafford  in  your  way,  and  we  might  travel  to  town  together, 
I  get  there  on  Saturday  the  1st  of  September. 

Robert  Scarlett  will  meet  us  in  town  on  the  Friday,  from  the 
Western  circuit.  James  Scarlett,  the  second  son,  who  is  in  a 
cavahy  regiment  quartered  in  Ireland,  is  coming  over  to  assist 
us  at  the  ceremony.  Peter,  the  youngest,  accompanied  his  father 
on  the  Northern  circuit,  but  is  to  be  sent  home  before  the  day 
arrives.  The  two  Miss  Campbells  I  mentioned  to  you  (Mrs. 
Scarlett's  nieces)  are  to  be  bridesmaids. 

The  family  leave  town  to-morrow.  Our  sittings  continue  till 
Friday.  I  intend  to  go  down  to  Abinger  that  evening  and  to 
continue  there  till  Tuesday,  when  I  proceed  to  Worcester. 


M  lilll'' 


[The  marriage  took  place  at  Abinger  Church,  September  8, 
1821.— Ed.] 

Rouen,  September  15, 1821. 

My  dear  Father  : — In  my  present  state  of  happiness  I  do 
not  forget  those  who  have  been  so  long  beloved  by  me.  I  am 
therefore  eager  to  give  you  some  intelligence  of  our  movements, 
but  you  will  not  expect  a  very  long  despatch.    We  crossed  from 


416 


LIFK  OF   LORD  CAMPBELI<. 


[1821. 


Dover  in  tlie  rtteaiu-pucket  on  Monday.  On  Tuesday  wo  onnie 
to  Abl)eville,  on  Wednesday  to  Neufchfttel,  and  yesterday  we 
arrived  here,  To-morrow  morning  we  start  for  Caen,  meaning 
to  proceeil  from  thence  to  Rennes,  Angera,  Nantes,  Tours,  Blois, 
Orleans  and  Paris.  There  we  exiKJct  to  be  joined  by  some  of 
the  Searletts,  with  whom  we  shall  return  to  London.  George 
•would  give  you  an  account  of  the  ceremony,  with  whicih  I  am 
sure  you  must  have  Ix^cn  pleased.  Everything  went  off  to  my 
heart's  desire.  To  be  sure,  if  you  could  have  been  present! 
But  this  would  have  l)een  too  much.  My  heart  is  penetrated 
■with  gratitude  to  my  dear  brother  for  his  kindness  in  conung 
uj),  and  the  generous  affection  he  uniformly  testified  to  me  while 
here.  I  am  impatient  to  know  how  long  he  remained  at  Abin- 
gcr,  and  where  he  has  been  since.  Say  all  that  is  affectionate 
from  me  to  my  sisters.  It  will  not  be  long  Ix-'fore  Mary  and 
they  know  each  other,  and  that  there  will  be  a  sisterly  regard 
among  them  all. 

Mary  sends  you  her  love  and  duty.     She  will  write  to  you 
•when  she  is  settled  in  Duke  Street. 


Paris,  October  12, 1821. 

My  dear  Father  : — We  arrived  in  Paris  on  Saturday.  I 
was  infinitely  delighted  by  receiving  your  kind  letter.  I  showed 
it  to  Mary,  who  insisted  on  me  allowing  her  to  show  it  to  her 
mother  and  sister,  that  they  might  see  what  u.  kind-hearted 
father-in-law  she  has. 

You  would  hear  of  us  from  Tours.  We  afterwards  pro- 
ceeded on  our  excursion,  according  to  the  plan  we  had  laid  down. 
We  stayed  one  day  -it  Blois,  and  two  at  Orleans.  We  then 
retreated  to  Fontainebleau,  and  we  were  so  much  pleased  with 
the  quiet,  the  climate  and  the  forest,  that  we  remained  three  days. 
The  day  after  our  arrival  here  the  Searletts  arrived,  and  we  are 
established  in  the  same  hotel.  I  have  been  in  such  a  perpetual 
bustle  that  I  have  not  had  an  instant  to  devote  to  you,  and  even 
now,  I  can  only  send  you  an  apology  for  not  writing.  When 
I  get  back  to  London  I  will  make  amends.    Our  carriage  is 


1821.] 


PmiTION  ox  THE  CIRCUIT. 


417 


now  actually  at  the  door,  and  I  am  cummoned  to  the  Louvre. 
In  the  evening  we  go  to  the  spectacle,  and  so  the  day  is  disposed 
of.  Yesterday  we  dined  with  a  French  judge  at  his  country 
house  about  twelve  milee  from  Paris,  where  we  met  members  of 
the  two  chambers,  generals,  <&c.  The  most  interesting  person 
was  TchitchikofT,  who  commanded  the  Russian  army  on  the 
B6r6sina. 

Scarlett  is  considered  a  person  of  great  distinction  here,  and 
with  him  I  might  get  into  all  sorts  of  society.  But  I  must  think 
of  Westminster  Hall.  We  leave  Paris  on  Sunday,  and  hope  to 
be  in  Duke  Street  on  Friday.  I  will  write  to  you  soon  aller  my 
return. 

Duke  Street,  November  20, 1821. 

My  dear  Father: —  .  .  .  We  have  at  last  got  all  our 
establishment  of  servants.  I  am  sure  you  will  admire  our  liv- 
eries. We  have  not  yet  begun  to  see  company,  unless  our  rela- 
tions. We  have  an  inundation  of  calls  and  cards,  from  Chief 
Justices  downwards,  including  Brougham  and  Denman  and  all 
the  men  whom  I  most  value.  I  have  been  very  much  gratified 
by  the  felicitations  of  my  friends  at  the  bar,  which  in  various 
instances  have  not  been  mere  words  of  form,  but  the  expression 
of  real  regai'd  and  good  will. 

This  is  certainly  a  season  of  prosperity  with  me,  and  I  trust 
I  have  a  proper  sense  of  gratitude  to  Heaven  for  the  blessiqgs 
bestowed  upon  me. 


I,   i:i 


:i'ii 


Court  of  King's  Bench,  Saturday,  December  8, 1821. 

My  dear  Father  : — Taunton,  Puller  and  Adam  have  this 
moment  taken  their  seats  as  King's  counsel  within  the  bar.  The 
other  two  are  Shadwell  and  Sugden,  of  the  Court  of  Chancery. 
This  is  the  whole  batch,  and  speculation  ia  at  an  end.  Denman 
is  sitting  at  my  right  hand,  and  although  he  aifects  to  smile  I 
think  he  is  a  good  deal  dejected.  His  permanent  loss  of  rank 
is  certainly  a  very  great  reverse  to  him.     Brougham  is  not  in 


418 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1821. 


court  to-(lny,  l)ut  he  likewise  niUMt  Ik;  u  ^(mmI  deal  (liwippointwl. 
Both  will  have  their  revenge  in  the  IltmHc*  of  ConitnouH. 

Ah  you  e.\pre.sMe<l  wmie  curiosity  on  the  subjeet  of  silk  gowns, 
I  wi»h  to  give  you  the  earlieHt  intelligence.  I  do  not  at  all  feel 
aggrieved  or  injured  in  not  Uiing  include*!.  On  the  circuit  I 
shall  Ikj  on  velvet — sure  of  a  brief  in  every  cause,  with  an  occa- 
sional lead. 


1822.] 


ELECTRD  A   MEMBER  OP  BROOKH'S. 


419 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Februart,  1822— Dkcrmber,  1824. 

Elected  a  Member  of  Brooks' — Brooke'  Club  and  tho  Bocuwing  Club — Tftk«, 
his  Wii'o  to  Scotland — MeutB  Canning  at  Abingor  '.fall — Marriago  of 
George  Carapboll — Edward  living — Taken  a  Houho  in  New  Street, Spring 
Gardens — Tour  in  Italy — V-.iUa  Rojiort  of  tlio  Death  of  Mr,  Scarlett — 
Gets  tho  Lead  on  the  Oxford  Circuit — ChriHtening  of  young  George 
Campbell — Judges  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bonch — Illness  and  Death  of 
Dr.  Campbell. 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  February  22, 1822. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  cannot  express  to  you  how  delighted 
I  always  am  to  hear  of  your  continuinfr  health  and  spirits. 

Copley,  Gurney,  and  Pollock  are  tiilking  so  loud  by  me  that 
I  cannot  get  on. 

Prceter  spem  I  was  last  night  elected  a  menilx?r  of  Brooks's. 
There  has  becti  nothing  but  blackballing  going  on  all  thesea.son, 
and  1  got  in  l)y  a  miracle.  The  ballot  wa.H  to  take  place  at 
eleven.  Scarlett,  Brougham,  Mackintosh  and  Ijord  Duncannon 
had  their  carriages  ordered  at  the  House  of  Conuuons  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  before,  and  M'crc  in  hop(!s  of  making  uj)  a  snug 
quorum  of  twelve.  But  the  room  was  soon  full.  Another  man 
was  balloted  for  before  me  and  rejected.  Lord  Duncannon,  who 
is  the  great  manager  of  the  club,  said  there  was  no  chance  for 
me.  However  the  ballot  nui.st  take  place.  Thirty  balloted,  and 
there  was  only  one  black  ball.  By  the  rules  of  the  club  a 
second  ballot  was  to  take  place  for  \wi  under  these  circumstances, 
upon  the  supposition  that  a  single  l)lack  ball  may  be  by  mistake, 
or  rather  to  afford  a  loetiLs  pa'nltentke  to  an  individual  who  finds 
himself  alone.  On  the  second  (ballot  there  was  not  a  .single 
black  ball,  and  I  was  declaretl  duly  elected.  I  shall  not  go 
much  to  the  club  for  the  present,  but  to  belong  to  it  is  a  feather 
in  my  cap.     Indeed  since  we  lost  our  estates  in  the  county  of 


!  'i 


•  II 


\   i:   li 


;  'i  V 


HI, 

:il 

-Ml 


'   I- 


420  UPE  or  LORD  CAMPBELL.  [1822. 

Angui,  I  am  inolined  to  think  that  my  election  at  Brnolcri'H  i^ 
the  greatest  distinction  our  house  has  met  with.  The  nluh  con- 
•bts  of  the  first  men  for  rank  and  talent  in  England. 

Business  last  term  rather  looked  up.  I  have  more  rctaineiM 
than  usual  for  the  circuit.  For  Junior  businem  I  am  nuw  th«> 
first,  without  a  rival.  This  is  not  a  bad  station  to  hold,  consider- 
ing that  I  went  without  the  smallest  particle  of  i*onncction,  und 
my  second  circuit  made  four  guineas,  and  no  more. 

In  domestic  life  I  enjoy  happiness  thot  no  splendor  of  fanio  or 
of  rank  could  have  conferred  upon  me.  I  leave  London  on  tlii> 
9th  of  March.  You  arc  right  in  supposing  that  I  shall  net  off 
this  spring  with  feelings  of  regret  I  never  before  knew. 

Stafford,  March  17,  1822. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  thunk  you  for  your  congratulutionH 
on  my  election  at  Brooks's.  The  antiquity  and  eorly  hintoiy  of 
the  club  I  do  not  know.  The  first  mention  of  it  I  am  awuro  of 
is  in  Junius.  There  are  three  or  four  hundred  members,  ulino,st 
all  peers  and  House  of  Commons  men.  There  is  a  house  in  St. 
James's  Street  belonging  to  the  club,  which  is  oi)en  night  and 
day  at  all  times  of  the  year.  Hero  there  is  a  room  for  the  newH- 
papers,  a  coffee  room,  a  card  room,  &c.  Men  drop  iu,  louiigo, 
ask  the  news,  and  walk  away.  The  best  time  is  about  eleven  or 
twelve  at  night,  when  men  usHcmble  from  the  two  Houses,  and 
all  quarters  of  the  town.  But  it  is  by  no  means  'All  hail,  fellow, 
well  met  I'  You  speak  to  such  as  you  know,  and  a  new  nicnilKT 
not  much  known  in  the  political  world  must  get  on  gradually. 
This,  you  are  aware,  is  the  stronghold  of  the  Whigs.  The  Tories 
muster  at  White's.  Boodle's  is  for  the  country  gentlemen,  and 
is  considered  neutnd.  I  could  not  now  have  anything  to  do  with 
the  present  Administration  without  being  denounced  as  a  raf ; 
but  you  have  little  cause  of  regret.  My  admission  was  a  matter 
of  the  most  serious  importance  to  me.  The  subscription  is  twenty 
guineas  the  first  year,  and  ten  after.  I  am  afraid  I  have  tirnl 
you  upon  this  subject. 

Nothing  at  all  memorable  upon  the  circuit.    The  first  parting 


ibii-j.J 


IIIH    llAlirrH   AT    UIUMIKHH. 


421 


with  my  dear  Mary  was  iiultrd  vi'ry  hittt'i',  and  I  «1()  not  now  well 
i«upiM)rt  our  iM>[>aration.  Diit  I  )u>ur  from  hor  daily,  and  I  miMt| 
as  you  HflvitM'^  look  forward  to  the  period  of  our  reunion.* 

[Extract  from  the  Autobiography] : 

In  February,  1822, 1  wa«  olecte<l  a  member  of  Brooks's.  The 
Whig  party  was  then  at  the  lowest  ebb.  George  IV.,  under 
whom  it  had  been  supiHMwd  tliat,  after  so  long  an  exclusion  from 
power,  they  were  to  baxk  in  the  sunshine  of  royal  favor,  on 
coming  to  the  throne  in  his  own  right  had  eonfirmwl  the  sentence 
Hgainst  them  which  he  had  pronouncetl  when  Regent,  and  viewed 
them  with  that  intense  hatrctl  which  arises  from  the  conscious- 
ness of  having  wronged  thcsse  who  had  a  right  to  expect  friendly 
treatment.  The  presumptive  heir  to  the  crown,  though  not  liable 
to  the  charge  of  inconsistency  and  treachery,  was  so  decidwUy 
adverse  to  Whig  principles  that  he  had  actively  and  zealously 
opposed  the  al)olition  of  the  slave  trade,  and  was  a  decided 
enemy  to  any  relaxation  of  the  jwnal  law  affecting  English  Dis- 
Honters,  or  our  Roman  Catholic  fellow  subjects  in  Ireland.  Not 
only  the  Church  and  the  landed  interest,  but  the  mass  of  the 
pople,  secnied  resolvccl  ujwn  the  |)erpetuity  of  Tory  rule. 
Nevertheless  I  should,  without  hesitation,  have  rejected  the  most 
ti'ini>ting  offt»rs  made  to  me  by  Eldon  or  Castlereagh,  and  I  was 
jrlad  now  to  l)c  regularly  and  publicly  inscribed  as  a  member  of 
the  party  then  laboring  for  the  repeal  of  the  Test  Act,  for  Catholic 
Emancipation,  and  for  the  effectual  suppression  of  the  traffic  in 
slaves  all  over  the  world. 

I  found  Brook's  rather  a  place  for  amusement  than  for  plan- 
ning political  and  social  improvement.  Though  the  very  high 
gaming  which  had  distinguished  it  in  Charles  Fox's  early  days 
had  ceased,  there  was  still  a  room  set  apart  for  nightly  hazard, 
wiiich  it  was  not  thought  becoming  for  any  to  enter  except  those 
who  meant  to  adventure,  and  a  room  freely  open  to  all,  where 

*  This  daily  interchange  of  letters,  whenever  my  father  and  mother  were 
parted,  continued  as  long  as  they  both  lived. — Eb. 


!-    \'' 


i| 


!  1 
'  ■  1 

;! 
,1 

J 

li 

:    i 
1    ; 

422 


lAVK  or  l,OHI)  CAMI'IIP.I.I,. 


[1822. 


wliiHt  wiiH  ('«)nHtiuitly  plitycd,  Muuftinutt  with  liif(li  lN>ttiiig.  My 
■tiition  WIIH  in  tlif  milon  i'or  coiivcrHiition,  wliich  \n  nlwuyH  v(>ry 
a|{r(i>ul)li>,  iinlcHH  thu  WIiikm  lm|t|)oii  to  bo  in  (Mw,  when  it 
bct'tmit'H  iliili,  tliiTt!  imufn  u  (liHitu'litmtion  to  ul)uw>  (>|H>niy  the 
nu>mlM>rH  and  thu  niniMnr(>M  of  th»  Government.  At  thix  time 
tho  men  who  here  tuike<l  mcmt  tVe<>ly  and  moflt  del i^j^ht fully  were 
BrouKluini,  Hitirlett,  MackintoMh,  liord  ('ow|M>r,  liord  MellNmrne 
and  liord  Dudley.  liord  (}rey  HometimeH  came,  hut  he  waM 
Btitf  and  reHerved,  and  though  LonI  I^anMlowne  whm  abundantly 
di^|H)MHl  to  Ih!  a^reeahle,  I  cannot  re<>olle('t  that  he  much  eidiv- 
ened  the  WKUety  by  wit  or  pleaHiuitry.  Lord  Ifolland  rarely 
came  to  Brookb'n.  However  I  ha<l  the  jirivile^e  of  adinirinj; 
and  reli,<ihin);  his  exquisite  powers  of  conversation,  and  his  iinox- 
am|)lcd  benevolence  of  disposition,  at  Holland  House,  where  I 
was  H<»n  after  initiate<l.  Here  was  to  l)e  found  the  lH>Ht  s(K>iety 
in  Euro|)e,  and  the  host  himself  ever  apiieared  t(»  me  the  most 
amiable  and  the  most  agreeable  |>erson  in  the  cin^lc. 

The  only  other  club  to  which  I  then  belonj^ed  was  the  '  Bees- 
wing,' which  consisted  of  about  ten  men,  who  met  once  a  month 
at  the  British  Coffee  House  to  dine  and  drink  port  wine. 
U{>ankie,  Dr.  Haslam,  author  of  several  treatises  on  Insanity, 
Andrew  Grant,  a  merchant  of  great  literary  ac«|uireiiieuts,  and 
George  Gordon,  known  alM)ut  town  jus  *  the  man  of  wit,'  were 
members,  and  the  conversation  wtis  as  go<Kl  as  I  ever  joined  in; 
but  the  drinking  was  tremendous,  and  I  was  obliged  to  resort  to 
contrivances  to  avoid  the  brunt  of  it.*  I  myself  and  McCul- 
loi'h,  secretary  to  the  East  India  Directors,  now  Imlridden,  are, 
alas !  the  only  survivoix.  I  |»robably  should  not  be  alive  to  tell 
the  tale  if  I  could  not  say  with  old  Adam : 


For  in  my  youth  I  novor  did  apply 
Hot  and  rebellious  liquors  in  my  blood. 

*  His  contrivance  at  home,  when  he  had  a  dinner  party  and  wished  to 
invite  each  of  the  guests  to  drink  a  glass  of  wine  with  him,  was  to  have  a 
bottle  of  toast-and-water,  looking  exactly  like  sherry,  on  the  sideboard,  from 
which  his  own  glass  was  always  replenished. — Ed. 


1822.] 


nm.!.  POLrnfAL  Tiyn. 


42a 


Our  aiutwtnrH  iiro  Miiil  to  haw  Uh\  a  nu'rry  litV,  hut  It  wiih  not  u 
long  ono.  AthliHon  ntid  ( 'hiuKt'llor  Joffivyit  dictl  nt  the  ngu  of 
forty-fH'von,  and  they  wvxv  not  <^>UMi«U>r(!(l  to  have  l)cen  cut  off 
prematurely,  according  to  the  notionn  of  their  tinuM.  Po|k>,  who 
(•omplettHJ  \m  Hily-tlurd  year,  wan  Haiti  to  have  nuiched  a  good 
old  age.    This  came  of  drinkiny  champayne  with  the  wits. 

May  31,1822. 

My  I)Kar  Fatiikr: — Copley  having  given  me  a  frank,  I 
have  axkcd  him  forwune  newnforyou.  '  Tell  the  old  gentleman,* 
MiyH  he,  '  that  we  are  all  going  out,  and  that  you  are  to  ho  the 
new  8olicitor-(jeneraI.'  I  fear  you  will  think  thi.s  too  good 
news  to  be  true.  The  W(>rlil  hiw  never  l)cen  ho  dull  in  my  time. 
There  in  not  even  a  rumor  ntirring.  We  npeculated  a  week  oh 
to  the  new  judge,  u.s  we  formerly  did  alK)Ut  the  fall  of  kings. 
We  are  at  last  tire<l  of  conjectures  ((U  this  subject,  and  nothing 
is  left  us  but  to  depl(»rc  our  melancholy  fate. 

I  have  however  Iwen  exceedingly  delighted  with  your  two  last 
letters.  You  seem  to  have  enjoyetl  highly  your  excureion  to 
Edinburgh,  and  I  have  myself  enjoyed  it  almost  an  much  in 
your  description. 

We  were  tit  Abinger  during  the  Whitsun  holidays.  George  is 
to  dine  with  the  Scarlctts  on  Monday.  We  have  not  entered 
into  any  fresh  engagement  for  our  house.  We  wish  to  take  it 
for  another  year,  without  Iwing  driven  to  buy  the  lease.  The 
house  is  old  and  rather  too  far  from  the  Temple,  and  we  are 
aiinoyed  by  thi;  western  sun,  although  the  view  into  the  Park  is 
80  delightful  that  I  shall  Ik;  sorry  to  lose  it.  I  wish  to  buy  a 
house  in  Whitehall  Place,  near  Charing  Cross,  but  they  ask  a 
great  deal  too  much  money  for  it — 6000  guineas. 

This  is  the  anniversjuy  of  the  day  when  my  dearest  Mary 
agreed  to  Ihj  mine.  A  most  happy  year  I  have  had,  and  this 
opens  very  auspiciously.  .  .  .  You  must  still  expect  us  this  sea- 
son. We  have  both  made  up  our  minds  to  the  expedition  so 
completely  that  it  would  be  a  great  mortification  to  both  to 
abandon  it.     Do  not  you  think  we  might  all  go  for  a  week  or 


I 


ifli 


494 


l.irK  or   l/)RI>  CAMPItKLL, 


[1822. 


fortniKtit  !<•  St.  Aiuln>wV,  ii  pimv  I  take  im  much  int('rt<»it  in  hm 
Cu|Mr  itM>ir?  I  HhimM  Ih>  (li'li^littHl  iiguin  to  Uulio  in  thc>  VVitnh 
I^ki>|  ami  lAay  at  golf  ruund  thu  Link*. 


Dalquharran,  HumUy,  H«|>ti>tnl)«r  «,  l«2J, 
My  KKAit  Fatiiku: — Uvrv  wo  an'  ko(>|>in)(  our  w(><l(lint(  "'"V. 
You  may  ifnii'mUr  tlint  it  wan  the  auNpiciouH  Htli  of  S4>|>t(>nilM>r 
that  witncMMtl  our  union.  .  .  .  We  h't't  (iiax^^ow  on  ThurMluv 
morning.  NotwithHtandin^  the  n)a(;niHii>n<*(>  of  the  HtnvtH  an<l 
public  l)uil(lin)(><,  I  have  no  (h'Hirc  to  rcviHit  it.  I  wiim  more 
struck  with  the  number  of  HtciunlM>atH  I  Haw  u|M)n  the  (piav. 
They  hHiked  like  whcrrien  otV  the  Teniph*  Htairn,  but  their  arrival 
and  departure  remintUHl  mo  more  of  the  White  tIorHi>  Cellar  in 
I'i(!cadilly.  We  went  thrnu^^h  a  iri(i;htriil  country  till  we  came 
to  Kilmarnock,  which  Im  remarkably  cltan  and  well  built,  and 
the  envirouH  of  which  are  rather  pretty.  Ayr,  our  next  Htnjje, 
i(»  the  uglicHt  place  I  ever  entered,  l»ut  1  felt  conrtiderable  intcr- 
t'Ht  in  walking  ncroKH  *  the  Twa  Uriggn.*  Hy  and  by  we  <'aine  to 
the  houHo  where  Holn^rt  BuniK  was  lM»ni,  to  the  ruinn  of  Kirk 
Allowav  where  Tam  o' Shanter  «iw  the  Devil  and  the  witchew, 
and  to  the  monument  they  are  erecting'  to  the  poet'x  memory. 
AlHtut  fttur  we  reaehwl  I)al(|uharran,  which  is  six  or  s«'ven  miles 
bey«md  MaylK>le.  We  mot  with  tin'  kinch'st  reception  from  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kenncily.  He  is  a  very  clever  and  accomplished  man, 
and  I  think  H<'otland  is  indebted  to  him  for  his  exertions  to 
improve  the  administration  of  our  criminal  law.  Mi's.  Kemie<|y 
beaitu  a  strong  resendmince  to  her  fatht^r,  Sir  Sanuiel  Romilly, 
and  apjK'ars  to  inherit  a  considerable  portion  of  his  talents.* 
The  house  and  grounds  are  very  fine,  although  the  surrounding 
cf)untry  is  the  most  savage  and  desolate  I  ever  saw.  I  would 
infinitely  rather  live  in  a  highland  glen.  But  the  climate  is 
worse.  We  have  nothing  but  high  winds  and  perpetual  rairj, 
and  it  seems  as  if  a  fall  of  snow  were  really  their  only  variety. 


•This  lady,  the  only  daughter  of  Sir  Samuel  Romilly,  died  October  9, 1879. 


1822.] 


LKTTKIl   ritOM   YOHK. 


42^ 


:tober9,  1879. 


T(Hniorrow  inoriiiii^  we  |tt'tM*«'(><l  to  (iri><>ii<H'k.  Our  nitjcct  will 
bo  to  Kvl  lUTONM  to  I)iiinlMirton.  Tiicrr  wo  mIiiiII  hiri<  horMw  to 
tukt!  IIS  to  Stirlini;,  M4>«>in^  m  iu\u'\\  of  Lih-Ii  li«iriiotitl  and  L«M>h 
KatriiK!  lut  wu  atii, 

York.  M<in'li»y  night  OotoUr  7.  t«22. 

My  m'.xn  Fatiikk  :— It  will  «'oiititiii<>  to  In>  a  |)li>a>«itiK  rcfloo- 
tioii  to  ni(>  an  loii^j;  itM  I  live  that  our  vinit  lias  alVonltil  you  mo 
iiiiicli  Hatisfactioii.  I  t'oiully  hope  that  lict'oi-f  a  very  loii^  |H>rio(l 
has  ciap.srtl,  w«*  shall  iM'a^^aiii  uimIci'  your  rtHtl',  and  that  wcslmll 
Htill  find  you  stout,  hrurty  aiul  joyous.  Our  Jounit'y  coutitiucH 
|>ros|M>r(Mis.  OiiThiii'silayiii^ht  wcrciiclMil  Durham.  Next  iiiorn- 
iii){  w<'  liKtUnI  at  tli(>  Ciitht'ilml,  and  the  Ilisho|rs  niatiM',  callt!!! 
the  Castle.      \V«'  then  drove  to  his  eouiitrv  I'esideiiee  at  Auek- 

* 

laud,  one  of  the  most  s|>lendid  plaees  I  ever  saw.  lie  is  a  I'riiieu 
Palatine  iiidee<l !  We  next  eaiiKt  to  Kaliy.  Things  are  oil  u 
I>r(Nli^iouss<nile  in  this  country.  What  a  pile  of  huililiii^!  Mut 
the  master  of  it.  Lord  Darlington,  Iuim  Xl(M),()<X)  a  year,  and  HeiuU 
«'ij?ht  or  ten  memlH'i'H  to  Parliament.  We  were  on  our  way  to 
th(!  Ilulloeks,  who  live  at  Harnard  ('iiMtle,  the  scene  of  the  prin- 
cipal events  of  Walter  Scott's  'Kokehy.'  We  met  with  U  iiKwt 
hearty  welcome  from  our  friend  the  Serjeant  and  his  wife,  luid 
stayed  with  tlieui  till  Suiahiy.  The  valleys  of  the  Twh,  tliu 
(jireta,  the  Swale  and  the  smaller  streams  present  heautiful  si-enciy 
in  this  countrv,  such  as  I  was  not  aware  was  to  he  found  south 
of  the  Tw<!e<l.  Even  after  seeinjj;  Dunkeld  and  Melrose,  we 
could  Ik)  cliarnie<l  with  Barnard  (.'astle,  Ejjj^Ieston  Ahlny  and 
Rokijhy  Hall.  Yestenlay  we  eiiiue  to  Richmond,  where  we  had 
a  very  intcreHtinj;  Hpccimcn  of  Norman  architecture.  The  castle, 
which  was  erected  in  the  time  of  the  Conqueror,  niinains  with- 
out any  alterntion  since  the  reign  of  Henry  1.  To-day  has  iK-ea 
one  of  the  pleasautcst  of  our  tour  in  England.  We  first  saw  a 
place  called  Hackfall,  which  to  a  Cockney  must  appear  exceed- 
ingly romantic.  We  then  went  to  Studley  Royal,  which  must 
encliant  all  nuinkind.  An  object  in  the  grounds  is  Fountuina 
Abbey,  the  finest  monastic   building  remaining  in  the  island. 


vol.  I. 


18^ 


426 


LIFE  OF   LOUD  CAMPBELIi, 


[1822. 


We  wuut  licre  the  tracery  and  carving  of  Melrose,  but  the  fabric 
was  much  grander,  and  in  now  entire.  Here  cjids  our  picturesque 
tour.  We  should  l)e  well  pleased  to  be  at  once  transported  to 
Duke  Street.  The  boundless  plain  now  is  very  insipid  and  tire- 
some. 

Mary  continues  quite  well.  She  sends  you  her  tenderest 
remembrance.  It  is  delightful  to  me  that  I  have  now  one  con- 
stantly by  me  with  whom  I  can  talk  of  my  dear  father,  and 
-who  appreciates  all  his  virtues. 

Abinger,  Sunday,  October  13, 1822. 

ISIy  dear  Father  : — I  hope  you  would  cease  to  feel  much 
-anxiety  about  us  after  hearing  of  our  safe  arrival  at  York. 
Some  friends  whom  we  intended  to  visit  there  were  in  the 
country,  and,  after  spending  an  hour  in  the  Minster,  which  we 
mlmired  with  unabated  enthusiasm,  we  proceeded  for  the  south. 
I  was  by  this  time  fatigued  with  sights  and  scenery,  and  I  rather 
enjoyed  the  repose  of  the  great  road  to  London,  which  is  proba- 
bly as  dull  as  any  200  miles  in  all  Europe.  At  this  time  of 
year  the  only  variety  is  stubble,  turnips,  meadow ;  and  meadow, 
turnips,  stubble.  We  slept  on  Tuesday  at  Barnby  Moor,  on 
Wednesday  at  Alconbury  Hill,  and  on  Thursday  in  Duke  Street. 
Friday  was  a  day  of  r^st  for  Mary,  and  labor  for  me,  as  I  was 
busily  employed  in  answering  cases  at  the  Temple.  Yesterday 
we  came  down  here,  and  had  a  very  ha[)py  meeting  with  the 
Scarlctts. 

I  was  surprised  to  find  here  as  a  guest  no  less  a  j^erson  than 
Mr.  Secretary  Canning.  Scarlett  and  he  are  old  friends,  and 
have  always  kept  up  some  degree  of  private  intimacy.  When 
he  was  going  to  the  East,  he  agreed  to  spend  a  day  or  two  with 
Scarlett  before  he  sailed.  His  destination  being  altered,  he 
■wrote  to  inquire  whether  Scarlett  had  any  objection  to  receive  a 
Secretary  of  State  instead  of  the  Goveruor  of  India.  He  is 
exceedingly  good  humored  and  unaffected,  but  by  no  means  so 
lively  as  I  expected.  Scarlett  says  that  he  appears  to  be  in  very 
bad  spirits,  and  I  rather  flatter  myself  that  he  foresees  a  speedy 


1823.] 


CHniSTENING  OF  1118  DAt'OHTEB. 


427 


dissolution  of  the  Ministry.  lie  stays  till  to-morrow.  We  had 
agreed  all  to  go  to  church  together  to-day,  hut  it  rains  so  dread- 
fully that  this  is  inipossihle,  and  there  is  rather  a  difficulty  in 
making  the  morning  pass  away  pleasantly  for  the  right  honora- 
ble gentleman.  I  stayed  with  him  alx>ve  an  hour  after  break- 
fast, but  I  then  stole  away  to  convei'se  a  little  with  my  deai' 
father. 

Stafford,  March  17, 1823. 

My  dear  Fatheu  : — Magdalen  would  give  you  an  account 
of  the  christening  or  her  god-daughter. 

Mary  writes  to  me  that  the  baby  continues  to  thrive  very 
much.  She  often  says  to  me:  'How  I  should  like  to  take  her 
to  Cupar  and  show  her  to  her  grandpapa.' 

I  am  going  to  conduct  a  cause  at  Salop  which  creates  conaid- 
eraljle  interest — a  prosecution  against  the  Hon.  T.  Kenyon  for 
refusing  to  bail  a  man,  and  putting  him  in  irons.  I  feel  a  good 
deal  of  anxiety  about  it.  I  still  very  much  want  practice  as  a 
leader. 

I  have  entirely  given  up  riding,  and  now  travel  in  a  chariot 
with  my  clerk.  The  mail  is  held  inconsistent  with  my  health 
and  dignity,  and  I  was  obliged  to  post  down  all  the  way  to 
Worcester. 

You  do  not  tell  me  how  you  feel  about  the  Spaniards.  You 
observe  we  Whigs  are  for  war.  My  private  opinion  is,  that  it 
is  more  prudent  to  lie  by  for  the  present,  and  trust  to  the  chap- 
ter of  accidents.  The  King's  health  has  certainly  materially 
suffered.  Lord  Liverpool  has  said  there  are  to  be  more  levies 
or  drawing-room;j.  The  Duke  of  Clarence  runs  about  announc- 
ing his  speedy  accession  to  the  throne.  A  friend  of  mine  the 
other  day  saw  a  letter  he  had  written  to  a  parson,  for  whom  he 
had  asked  the  appointment  of  King's  chaplain : 

'  My  bear  Sir  : — I  made  the  application  in  your  favor,  but,  as  usual,  I  am 
refused.    However,  you  will  not  have  to  wait  long. 

'  Yours  truly,  '  William.' 


■I|:f^! 


liliii' 

[ 


i  ill 


428 


LIFE  OP   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1823. 

His  Royal  Highness  called  upon  the  parson  next  day  and  said 
in  direct  terms :  *  The  King  cannot  last  long  and  poor  Frederick 
is  in  a  very  bad  way.'  Nothing  offers  any  hope  to  the  Whigs 
except  the  remote  possibility  of  Aloxandrina  Victoria  soon 
coming  to  the  throne,  with  the  Duke  of  Sussex  for  Regent. 
Tierney  says  truly  that  the  game  is  up.  The  party  may  almost 
be  considered  as  dissolved.  Each  man  follows  his  own  separate 
object  of  ambition  or  vanity.  liord  Grenville  is  dying.  Lord 
Liverpool  and  the  Chancellor  are  each  talketl  of  as  his  successor 
at  Oxford.  The  Fii-st  I^ord  of  the  Treasury  makes  bishops, 
and  he  will  carry  it. 

Temple,  June  23, 1823. 

My  dear  Father: — Upon  receiving  this  I  suppose  you 
will  still  be  in  a  tumult  of  joy  upon  the  arrival  of  George  and 
Margaret.*  I  have  often  looked  with  concern  to  the  weathercock, 
and  thought,  of  thcin  with  some  alarm  when  I  observed  the 
whirlwinds  of  dust  raised  at  Charing  Cross  and  in  St.  James's 
Park ;  but  I  still  hope  they  will  to-night  take  happy  possession 
of  Edenwood.  You  will  find  George  looking  better  than  he 
has  ever  done  since  he  came  from  India.  It  has  been  extremely 
delightful  to  me  to  observe  him  so  nmch  pleased  with  his 
situation  and  his  prospetits.  Indeed  he  has  every  reason  to  be 
so.  He  seems  to  have  made  a  most  fortunate  choice.  Margaret 
was  very  much  admired  by  all  who  saw  her,  not  only  for  being 
very  pretty,  but  also  for  her  extremely  sweet  and  engaging  man- 
ner. Scarlett,  who  affects  to  be  a  great  judge  of  the  fair  sex, 
was  particularly  struck  with  her,  and  talked  of  her  in  terms  of 
the  highest  admiration.  I  say  with  you,  that  I  am  sure  she  is 
more  likely  to  render  George  happy  than  any  woman  that  we 
ever  supposed  there  was  a  chance  of  his  marrying. 

George  will  tell  you  about  our  new  house  in  New  Street.f  I 
reckon  myself  very  lucky  in  getting  it.     The  law  goes  on  with 


*  Qeorge  Campbell  had  recently  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  A.  Christie, 
Esq.,  of  Ferry  Bank. — Ed. 
f  No.  9  New  Street,  Spring  Gardens. 


1823.] 


OOEfl  TO  HEAH   MR.  IRVINO. 


429 


inc  prosperouHly.  No  Hiuldei)  H|>rinj?,  but  I  still  impciXHjptibly 
advance.  To-day  I  made  a  8|)ee<'h  in  the  House  of  Lords,  which 
wan  rweivwl  with  j^rcat  <'ivility  both  by  the  Chancellor  and  Lord 
Rcdesdalc.  T  lead  a  life  of  terrible  toil,  but  I  ought  to  he  most 
thankful  for  the  blessings  I  enjoy. 

Ha"  the  fame  of  Mr.  Irving  reachecl  you?  All  London  is 
ringing  with  him.  I  went  to  hear  him  yesterday  for  the  first 
time,  and  he  certainly  is  a  most  extraordinarj'  man.  This  may 
be  discovered  the  moment  he  enters  the  pulpit.  He  is  the  very 
picture  of  an  apostle.  I  think  he;  is  gieatly  superior  to  Chalmers. 
He  ha"*  not  only  a  noble  face  and  figure,  but  his  voice  is  the  very 
finest  1  ever  heard.  Its  tones  instantly  make  the  heart  vibrate. 
His  eloquence  is  more  overwhelming  than  anything  I  ever  before 
heard,  or  could  have  inuigincd.  liv.  several  times  made  the  tears 
roll  down  my  fime,  although  *  unused  to  the  melting  mood.'  He 
has  for  his  auditoi-s,  peers,  j)rivy  (touncillors,  and  ladies  of  fashion. 
Yesterday  T^ord  Liverpool,  liord  Diithurst,  Lady  Stafford,  Lady 
Jersey,  <fec.,  Ac.,  were  prcs(»nt.  Canning,  Brougham,  Mackintosh, 
and  all  the  intellectual  men  in  Ijondon  have  heard  him,  and  are 
enthusiastic  in  his  praise.  Yesterday  many  hundrc<ls  ivere 
turned  away,  and  many,  who  could  not  gain  admission,  were 
pleased  to  remain  without  *  in  the  hope  of  catching  some  broken 
murnuu"  of  the  holy  eloquence.'  This,  I  think,  is  Hume's 
account  of  the  manner  in  which  Henderson  was  run  after  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  I.  There  has  been  nothing  like  him  in  London 
since.  A  subscription  is  going  on  to  build  him  a  new  church. 
I  subscribed  £10. 

[Extract  from  the  Autobiography]: 

The  most  distinguisluMl  tour  we  ever  made  was  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  summer  circuit,  in  1823,  when  we  visited  Italy.  "We 
were  absent  ten  weeks,  and  during  this  time,  by  extraordinary 
exertion,  we  visited  every  })lace  of  note  north  of  Home — crossing 
the  Simplon  and  Mont  Cenis,  sailing  on  all  the  Italian  Irkes, 
staying  four  days  at  Milan,  five  at  Venice,  four  at  Boiogna,  five 


Jl-i: 


II 


ii i.i|i|!i''''  iiil 
'N!i   llllil    ' 

ill 


I    |l|||||l||ii||i|i! 


''1  I'ljli 


430 


LIFE  OP  LOKD  CAMPBELL. 


[1824. 


at  Florence — tmvelUng  by  the  Riviera  from  Pisa  to  Goiion,  ami, 
on  our  return  by  Grenoble,  passing  a  night  with  the  monks  nt 
the  Grande  Chartreuse. 


Tomplo,  October  24, 1823. 

My  dear  Father  ; — I  should  in  vain  attempt  to  express 
the  joy  I  felt  in  again  finding  on  my  table  a  letter  directed  to 
me  in  your  handwriting.  It  was  late  before  I  got  away  from 
Guildhall  yesterday,  or  I  should  have  answered  it  immediately. 
After  reading  it  over  and  over  again,  I  sent  it  to  Hackney  to 
cheer  the  hearts  of  Lindsay  and  Magdalen.  I  trust  in  God  that 
you  continue  to  go  on  favorably,  and  that  you  will  soon  be 
restored  to  your  former  health. 

We  found  our  little  girl  very  much  grown  and  improved. 
Mary  and  she  ai'c  still  at  Abinger.  I  am  going  down  to-morrow 
to  fetch  them. 

You  cannot  expect  me  to  enter  into  any  history  of  my  travels. 
My  journal  is  at  your  service,  and  I  rather  flatter  myself  that 
you  might  find  some  parts  of  it  amusing.  I  can  truly  say  that 
I  often  wrote  it  when  I  was  very  tired,  in  tlie  hope  that  you 
might  peruse  it. 

Hereford,  March  2(5,  1824. 

My  dear  Father  : — I  was  greatly  delighted  again  to  behold 
your  well-known  hand.  Having  got  as  far  as  the  Moat  Hill,  I 
trust  your  walks  will  soon  be  extended.  But  you  must  spare 
yourself,  and  consider  that  many  enjoy  a  tolerable  share  of  happi- 
ness without  being  able  to  take  much  exerci.sc. 

My  good  luck  upon  the  circuit  still  sticks  to  me.  There  was 
one  very  important  cau.se  here,  which,  had  it  occurred  on  the 
Northern  circuit,  would  have  filled  the  newspapers :  an  action 
between  two  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  county  of  Carmarthen 
for  a  malicious  prosecution.  I  was  for  the  plaintiff,  and,  after  a 
two  days'  trial  and  overcoming  many  difficulties,  I  got  a  verdict 
with  £1000  damages.  I  have  gained  more  credit  on  this  than 
on  any  former  occasion  since  I  have  been  at  the  bar. 


1824.] 


REPORTED   DEATH   OP   MR.  SCARLETT. 


43t 


You  would  observe  by  the  newspaj>errt  that  Scarlett  has  been 
ill.  I  had  a  letter  from  Brougham  yesterday  to  tell  me  that  he 
is  much  better. 

Plumer's  death  will  cause  a  move  in  the  law.*  Gifford  Master 
of  the  Rolls,  Copley  Chief  Justice,  and  Tindal  Solicitor-General. 
No  hope  for  the  poor  Whigs.  But  it  is  something  to  have  the 
near  prospect  of  a  silk  gown,  and  something  more  to  he  indepen- 
dent of  it. 

[Within  a  mile  of  Monmouth  I  was  shown  a  newspaper  stating 
that  Mr.  Scarlett  had  died  suddenly  tit  York.  I  immediately 
turned  back  and  posted  up  to  London.] 

London,  April  10, 1824. 

My  Dear  Father: — Mary  uiid  I  feel  very  grateful  to  you 
for  the  interest  you  testified  for  us  upon  the  late  alarming 
occasion.  > 

I  arrived  in  town  on  Thursday  evening.  Scarlett  drank  tea 
with  us,  in  perfect  uealth.  He  had  arrived  sjifely  from  York  a 
few  hours  before.  The  complaint  which  hud  annoyed  him  a 
little  on  the  cii'cuit  has  complcitely  left  him.  By  way  of  recom- 
pense, they  are  now  making  him  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common 
Pleas,  which  is  exactly  n-  true  as  the  story  of  his  death. 

I  hear  with  great  ])1(!asnro  of  your  delight  in  your  little 
grandson. t  I  wish  I  could  pop  down  to  the  christening.  This 
is  a  very  happy  event  for  George.    He  will  be  a  very  fond  papa. 

I  lost  about  seventy  guinciiis  by  my  absence  from  Monmouth, 
but  the  causes  were  not  of  an  interesting  description,  and  I 
believe  no  one  made  any  impression  to  do  me  a  permanent  injury. 
At  Gloucester  my  luck  returned  to  me.  I  lead  against  Taunton 
with  great  success.  Considering  how  very  critical  this  circuit 
was  for  me,  we  have  all  reason  to  rejoice.  I  could  not  remain 
where  I  had  been,  and  it  was  necessary  that  I  should  either  start 


*Sir  Thomas  Plumer,  Master  cf  the  Rolls,  died  March  24, 1824.— Ed. 
f  The  present  Sir  George  Campbell,  K.  C.  S.  I.,  M.  P.,  late  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor of  Bengal. — E», 


Mil 


^    I 


'  -iiii!! 


432 


LIFK  OP   LORD  CAMPBELL, 


[1824. 


forwanl  into  the  lend,  orl)e  trnni|)lc<l  upon  by  other  men  passing 
over  my  head.  I  Iwlieve  it  is  considered  that  I  shall  henceforth 
hG/uaife  princepn. 

On  my  return  I  found  two  briefs  for  the  House  of  Lords.  I 
could  easily  get  into  Scotch  apical  business  now,  if  it  squared 
■with  K.  B.,  which  it  does  not,  and  the  common  law  is  much 
preferable. 

May  6, 1824. 

My  dkau  Father: — I  have  received  a  very  Interesting  and 
touching  account  from  George  of  the  christening  of  his  son.  1 
should  Ihj  without  heart  indeetl  if  I  could  read  it  without  emotion. 
I  bless  God  that  you  are  preserved  to  us  to  perform  this  solemnity. 
I  hope  that  your  pmyei*s  for  the  peace,  concord,  honor  and  pros- 
perity of  the  family  will  ha  heard,  and  that  wo  shall  ever  live  in 
remembrance  of  the  example  you  hav(!  set  before  us  of  every 
domestic  virtue. 

There  was  a  rei)ort  very  rife  last  week  that  Fiord  Liverpool 
was  going  out  and  Lord  Lansdowne  coming  in,  but  I  never 
gave  any  credit  to  it.  From  the  division  in  the  House  of  Lords 
last  night,*  it  is  now  probable  that  if  Lord  Liverpool  goes  out 
he  will  l)e  succeetled  by  an  ultra-Tory.  His  health  declines  so 
much  that  he  is  not  likely  to  continue  long  at  the  head  of  the 
Treasury. 

They  say  Canning  proposed  to  the  Cabinet  t<>  make  Scarlett 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas.  Scarlett  sjiys  he  would 
not  have  accepted  the  office.  It  would  have  been  a  good  thing 
for  him,  although  he  would  have  suffered  a  loss  of  income.  He 
continues  perfectly  well.  This  is  the  first  day  of  Easter  Term. 
Mr.  Justice  Littledale  takes  his  place  on  the  bench.  This  is  a 
very  good  appointment. 

[In  the  *  Life  of  Lord  Tenterden '  my  father  gives  a  lively 
description  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench  at  this  period.     I  ven- 

*  Unitarians'  Marriages  Relief  Bill :  majority  of  39  against  going  into  Com- 
mittee.— Ed. 


1824.] 


COURT  OF   KINGS   BENCH. 


433 


turc  to  insert  the  passage  here,  though  it  has  already  appeared 
in  print. — Ed.]  : 

*  The  fur  happiest  part  of  my  life  as  an  advocate  I  passed 
under  the  auspices  of  Chief  Justice  Abbott.  From  being  a 
puisne,  it  was  Home  time  lieforc  he  acquired  the  jn'edige  which, 
fur  the  due  administrntion  tf  justice,  the  Chief  ought  to  enjoy, 
and  while  Best  rcmainwl  a  member  of  the  court  he  frequently 
obstructed  the  march  of  business.  But  when  this  very  amiable 
and  elo(j[uent,  though  not  very  logical,  judge  had  prevailed  ujjon 
the  Prince  Regent  to  make  him  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common 
Pleas,  the  King's  Bench  l)ecame  the  beau  icUal  of  a  court  of 
justice.  Best  was  succcetlcd  by  Littledale,  one  of  the  most 
acute,  learned  and  simple-minded  of  men.  For  the  senior 
puisne  we  had  Bayley.  lie  did  not  tidk  very  wisely  on  litera- 
ture, or  on  the  affairs  of  life,  but  the  whole  of  the  common  law 
of  this  realm  he  carrietl  in  his  head,  and  in  seven  little  red 
books.  These  accompanied  him  day  and  night ;  in  these  every 
reported  case  was  regularly  posted,  and  in  these,  by  a  sort  of 
magic,  he  c;ould  at  all  times  instantaneously  turn  up  the  authori- 
ties required.  The  remaining  puisne  was  Holroyd,  who  was 
absolutely  born  with  a  genius  for  law,  and  was  not  only 
acquainted  with  all  that  imd  ever  been  said  or  written  on  the 
subject,  but  reasoned  most  scientifically  and  bcautitiilly  upon 
every  point  of  law  which  he  touched,  and,  notwithstanding  his 
husky  voice  and  sodden  features,  as  often  as  he  spoke  he  delighted 
all  who  were  capable  of  appreciating  his  rare  excellence.  Every 
point  made  by  counsel  was  underetood  in  a  moment ;  the  appli- 
cation of  every  authority  was  discovered  at  a  glance ;  the  counsel 
saw  when  he  might  sit  down,  his  cose  being  safe,  and  when  he 
might  sit  down,  all  chance  of  success  for  his  client  being  at  an 
end.  I  have  practiced  at  the  bar  when  no  case  was  secure,  no 
case  was  desperate,  and  when,  good  points  being  overruled,  for 
the  sake  of  justice  it  was  necessary  that  bad  points  should 
be  taken ;  but  during  that  golden  age  law  and  reason  prevailed ; 
the  result  was  confidently  anticipated  by  the  knowing  before  the 

VOL  I.  19 


pi 

.1 

li 

i 

484 


UFB  OF  LORD  OAMPBIXL. 


[1824. 


argument  l)ogan,  and  the  juclginent  wbh  approved  by  all  M'ho 
lioard  it  pt*(>Mounc(<d,  including  the  van(iuiHh(>d  {wrty.  Dcfore 
BUch  a  tribunal,  the  advocate  Inn'onu's  iloarer  to  hiniHolf  by  pre- 
serving his  own  OHteem,  and  feclrt  hiiuMelf  to  Xm  a  minister  of 
justice,  instead  of  a  declainier,  a  tri<*kHtcr,  or  a  bully.  I  do  not 
believe  that  so  much  imi)ortant  buHincHH  wm  over  done  so  rapidly 
and  80  well  before  any  other  court  that  ever  Hat  in  any  age  or 
country.'* 

Court  of  King'*  Bench,  May  24. 1824, 

My  dear  Father: — Your  last  letter  gave  me  particular 
pleasure,  as  it  seemed  to  show  that  you  were  in  l)etter  spirits,  and 
had  rather  a  l)etter  opinion  of  your  own  health. 

I  dined  yesterday  at  Scarlett's  to  meet  U.K. II.  the  Duke  of 
Gloucester.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  talk  ren[H.'cting  the  county 
of  Fife,  for  General  Fergusson  said  that  two  brootls  of  yoiuig 
pheasants  had  lieen  seen  in  the  lieldn  at  Kaith.  Coke,  of  Norfolk, 
said  that  it  was  impossible,  as  he  did  not  exiwct  to  see  any  at 
Holkham  for  three  weeks  to  come.  Fcrgiimon. — *  But,  consider 
how  your  bare,  bleak  country  is  exposetl  to  the  Norway  blast. 
Do  you  compare  that  to  our  Murm,  sheltorctl,  sunny  glades  in 
Fife?*  The  Duke  of  Gloucester  exjjrcsaed  a  strong _ desire  to 
see  some  of  these  wonderful  pherwants,  antl  Forgusson  undertook 
to  produce  one  of  them.  Campbell. — *  I  am  afraid  they  must 
now  be  too  strong  to  be  caught,  and  that  they  have  all  flown 
away?' 

Tomplo,  July  13, 1824. 

My  dear  Brother  : — ...  Brougham  says  he  believes  that  lie 
and  I  and  others  will  have  silk  gowns  before  the  circuit,  or  at  least 
before  next  term.  The  Chancellor  said,  a  few  days  ago,  that  he 
only  wanted  an  hour's  conversation  with  the  King  to  complete 
his  arrangements  for  law  promotions.  I  do  not  myself  believe 
that  anything  will  be  done  for  a  long  while  to  come,  nor  do  I 
know  that  I  shall  be  included  when  the  batch  comes  out.  I 
know  nothing  certainly  to  rely  upon,  except  the  Chancellor's 


*lAvtt  of  the  Chief  Jtulices,  vol,  iii.  p.  291. 


1824.] 


ANTK-II'ATIONM   AS  TO  MILK   U0WN8. 


436 


dec'lamtioii  thut  lu;  would  not  niuku  uny  upon  Ifui  Oxford  circuit 
without  iucluding  uic.  It  it*  thuu^ht  at  the  l>ur  that  I  have 
a  good  claim,  aud  that  1  nhall  Ik*  very  ill  u>wmI  if  I  am  pawed 
over.  What  eif'cct  rank  will  hnvc  upon  my  pnu'ticc  in  Tendon 
is  very  doubtful.  There  will  U'  a  treuieiidouH  (TuhIi,  anil  I  may 
very  poHHibly  Ix!  |>u.shc<l  uMide.  Ih'ou^ham,  Dcnnuui,  Pollock, 
are  very  formidable  o|>|H)nentM,  in  addition  to  Copley,  Hiiirlett, 
Marryat  and  (Jurney.  Ilowi'ver  niy  inward  e<»nHdenee  (or 
whotcver  other  name  you  may  cIiimw  to  ^ive  this  feeling)  docH 
not  altogether  fornakc  me.  I  think  I  am  every  way  a  match  for 
Pollock,  and  an  to  Brougham  and  Denmaii,  I  nhall  improve  in 
eloquence  more  than  they  will  in  law,  and  by  aud  by  I  do  not 
think  there  will  be  any  very  gr(>at  inequality  between  U8.  But 
I  talk  very  wildly,  for  I  may  go  on  for  yeai*H  to  come,  and  till 
my  teeth  decay,  Hcttling  declarution»  and  o{)ening  the  pleadingH. 
Notwithatanding  the  risk  I  Mhould  run,  I  should  wish  the  thing 
to  be  done  H|)eedly.  I  cannot  attend  now  to  small  nuitters  with 
ray  usual  zeal  and  assiduity.  The  Bail  Court  I  have  given  up 
entirely.  I  should  like  to  tuke  the  plunge,  that  I  may  sink  or 
swim. 

Court  of  King'H  Bench,  November  16, 1824. 

My  dear  Father: —  ...  I  need  not  say  how  anxious  I 
am  about  you  in  your  present  situation.  I  hope  in  God  that  all 
will  go  well,  and  that  I  shall  yet  see  you  free  from  suftering, 
and  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  life.  My  heart  is  too  full  to  allow 
me  to  say  more  at  present. 

We  are  all  quite  well.  Mary  is  entirely  recovered.  She  is 
wholly  devoted  to  her  maternal  duties.  The  boy  continues  to 
thrive.  We  do  not  know  exactly  what  name  to  call  him  by,  till 
I  hear  from  George  again.*  Whatever  it  may  be,  he  will  be 
equally  taught  to  love  and  venerate  you.  Little  Loo  prays  every 
night  for  her  grandpapa.  She  becomes  exceedingly  entertaining, 
and  I  should  like  to  play  with  her  for  hours  together. 

*  He  was  called  William  Frederick,  after  his  godfather  the  Duke  of  Qlouces- 
ter.— Ed. 


■ 


is;; 


436  UFB  or  LOAD  OAMPMLL.  [1824. 

No  news  in  the  law.  They  aay  that  iomcthing  will  be  (1od(< 
•bout  silk  gownti  wluiti  the  King  comvH  to  town  on  Saturday, 
but  I  believe  the  Orevk  kalends  is  the  only  time  that  can  \ni 
mentioned  with  any  prolmbility. 

Business  is  rather  flut.  Hteadinees  of  prices  is  the  ruin  of 
Guildhall.  Altliough  my  old  City  clients  do  not  desert  inc,  I 
should  be  obliged  to  go  uim>ii  the  i>ari8h  if  I  do{)endcd  U|ion 
them ;  but  my  n>(>utation  extendN,  uud  I  Hnd  the  summing  up 
of  my  fee  book  not  very  uuHiiHsfuctory.  My  success  on  the 
circuit  brings  me  in  a  gtKNl  deal  in  the  shape  of  rdainera,  the 
easiest  way  of  making  money  at  the  Imr.  Ernkinc  was  once 
askgd  why  he  did  nut  retire  ujx)!!  his  retainers. 

Robert  Scarlett  and  his  bride  arc  returned  from  Italy  to  Paris, 
and  arc  cx{)ected  in  London  next  week.  The  Scarlett  family 
come  to  town  curly  in  December.  I  will  write  to  you  soon  again. 
In  the  mcantinic,  adieu. 

Ever  yours  most  affectionately, 

J.  Campbell. 

[This  is  the  lost  letter  which  he  wrote  to  his  father,  who  died 
on  the  24th  of  November.  In  the  Autobiography  he  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  illness  and  death  of  Dr.  Campbell. — 
Ed.]: 

My  domestic  happiness  was  made  complete  by  the  birth  of  a 
daughter  in  1823,  and  u  son  in  1824.  My  father  wuh  preservikl 
to  bestow  a  biesHlng  oil  his  grandchildren,  but  was  soon  after 
taken  from  us  in  Iuh  seventy-eighth  year,  after  he  had  been  above 
fifty  years  clergyman  of  the  same  parish.  He  waa  of  a  remark- 
ably strong  constitution,  and  might  have  expected  a  conHiderable 
prolongation  of  life,  but  for  a  year  or  two  he  had  sutlcred  from 
that  dreadful  diseant!,  the  stone.  I  last  saw  him  u  few  months 
before  his  death,  wluui  he  was  suffering  much  bodily  pain,  but 
he  was  cheerful  and  kinilhearted  as  ever,  regarding  with  com- 
posure his  own  fate,  and  enjoying  the  happine:js  and  good  fortune 
of  others.  When  I  kissed  him  on  taking  leave,  I  had  a  melan- 
choly foreboding  that  we  should  meet  no  more  in  this  world,  and 


1824.] 


DBATU  OF  UU  rATIlDH. 


437 


it  waa  long  bofon>  1  wum  in  u  Hutnriunt  Htuto  of  oompoiure  to 
begin  my  journey.  Thi>  unti(!i|>ution  wim  too  oorrcot.  Soon  after 
tluH  hitt  nitilitjul  iittcnduntM  rvconunumlod  a  Murgical  operation. 
It  wiM  |H>rforni(xl,  hut  hu  Mtnk  under  it. 

I  received  t\u<  i'utul  intelligence  in  u  letter  Arom  my  brother, 
whirh  (iuimhI  nit>  a  greiit  HJiiKk,  but  my  bitter  grief  I  endured 
when  1  luirtt^l  with  him  in  Hcotlund.  The  day  of  tlie  funeral 
wait  truly  u  very  dinmul  one  for  me.  It  hud  U'en  fixed,  mtcording 
to  the  eiiMton:  of  tht;  country,  on  hucIi  an  early  day  that  I  could 
not  (H>me  down  from  l^ondon  in  time  to  attend  it.  The  hour 
arriving  when  the  cottiu  waM  to  Im;  lowered  into  the  t!old  grave 
where  my  mother  lay,  and  the  'moulds'  were  to  be  thrown  U]Mm 
it,  I  Hutfered  more  than  if  I  had  lieen  preHcnt  at  the  mu!  Holemnity. 
In  that  carii>  I  rthould  have  K<'cn  nearly  the  whole  of  bin  pariHh- 
ionerM  gathere<l  round,  eager  to  hIiow  their  riM|)eet  for  the  memory 
of  a  paHtor  \\\\r  so  long  had  admiiiiHtere<l  the  (wnsolationM  of 
religion  to  them  and  their  fatherM.  I  le  was  univcrHully  reverenced 
and  beloved  for  hirt  pious  zeal  to  promote  tlu;  Hpirituul  interestH 
of  hiti  flock,  and  for  bin  amiable  mannerH  and  high  Hocial  quali- 
ties. While  celebratal  as  a  popular  preacher,  he  waw  an  admirable 
player  on  the  violin,  he  .sung  a  pleasant  8^>ng,  and,  on  the  birth- 
day of  hiH  children  or  any  such  anniversary,  he  showed  himself 
within  my  r(>collection  the  Ix'st  dancer  in  the  {mrish.  He  had 
been  the  intimate  friend  of  Robertson  and  Blair. 

I  caused  a  plain  marble  cenotaph  to  be  placed  in  the  church  to 
his  memory,  with  the  following  inscription : 


' 


TO  THE  MEMOBT 
OF 

THE  REVEREND  GEORGE  CAMPBELL,  D.  D., 

WBO,  HAVING    BEGH  61    TEARS   MINIBTEB  OF 

OUPAB,  FIFE, 

DIED  ON  THE   24tH  DAV   OF   VOVEUBBB,  1824, 

IN   THE    78th   year    OF   BIS  AOE. 

THIS  TABLET  18  EREOTED  BT 

HIS  OBILDREir, 

IN  TE6TIM0NT 

OF   HIS   VIRTUES   AND   THEIR   VENBBATIOB. 


438  Lirs  or  ix)iti>  ('AMiMiKr.i..  [1824. 

N«w  HtrMt,  D*e«mb«r  4.  IA24 

My  dkak  HiUKriiKit:— I  think  I  ti<«l  rauru  uwrwhulinwl  hy  the 
Ivttor  I  rc<viv(Hl  from  you  to-tluy  thuiiuvun  by  thutaiiii(Hiii«'in((our 
liither'H  <h>iith.  Why  did  I  not  umiitt  ut  the  hutt  miuI  ccrvtiiony  ? 
Why  wuM  I  not  pn-Ht'nt,  it*  {MWHiblu,  to  <!oinfort  you  luid  niy 
ulnUin't  What  niUHt  th«ir  Hi'nHiitionM  hnvc  U>t>n  when  thi>y  left 
tht)  {Mitcrniil  riK)!',  and  whiit  nuiMt  thoy  In;  when  tht^y  ri'turn  to 
it  ?  Thu  puriMMiit  lor  which  they  t>xiHt(>d  niUHt  indittl  mmm  ut  on 
•nd. 

[  Hhail  1)0  t>X(H>cdin){ly  tmxioiiH  till  I  h«>ai'  from  you  again,  and 
know  that  you  have  r«'«'ovt'r<'«l  your  «'oin|M)Hur«'.  And  you  will 
Huruly  tell  nio  all  whi<'h,  if  you  hud  Imk'u  aimcnt  from  thu  Hocne, 
y«>u  would  have  wiHh(><l  to  Ih>  coninuinicatnl  to  you. 

I  have  not  otut' left  th(>  house  Hiu(i>  I  roturn<>d  from  Hackney. 
Mary  haM  lH,'have<l  ho  Mwtn'tly  and  artlftiouately  tw  to  Ih'  more 
than  ever  endeared  to  me.  I  think  with  more  pleaHure  than  ever 
U|Mm  your  donu'stie  happiuei^.  The  smih's  of  your  Hon  will  re- 
pay you  for  your  kindness  to  our  |>oor  father.  How  dcNolute 
your  condition  would  have  Im-cu  if  you  had  not  htul  these  ubjcota 
t<»  attach  you  to  existence ! 

I  myself  feel  more  depresstHl  than  at  any  time  hIucc  the  death 
of  our  mother.  I  do  not  suft'er  froni  sharp  j^rief,  but  I  am  dis- 
Holved  in  melam^holy,  and  almost  al!  the  objects  of  life  seem  to 
have  loHt  all  value  in  my  eyes. 

Hay  all  that  ia  kind  on  my  part  to  my  dear  Histers,  and  may 
you  and  they  ever  think  kindly  of  me.  Mary  senda  her  tenderest 
love.     Dear  dear  Oeorj^e,  Inilieve  me  ever  to  be, 

Your  most  affectionate  Brother, 

J.  CVMPBELL. 


iH'^rj.J 


IIKol'dllAM    ilKrCSED   A  MILK   GOWN. 


CIIAPTKR  XV. 

Jum,  lH:iA-NuvKMii».  Ifl37. 

Tb«  King'*  R«fu»nl  to  l«t  Brougham  h»vo  %  Stilc  Gown— IVliktuaDUry  Pro*- 
paot*— C»nvA«iiim  Htnironi  tor  tlin  noxl  OxrinrAl  Rlflction — DiMolution  of 
P»rlininimt,  iii  May.  |M1>(1— SuiTnr.l  Klection  — Ito  i«  Dnfuattnl  — I.tigil 
Ailvi««r  nt  Iiuihllnl'l  an<l  Woymoittli  Kluctionii— Tour  in  HwitiflrUml— 
Dinner  with  Cuplny — Dunth  ot  Mitry  firuoo — lt»ril  Lifa  on  Oiruuil— 
NegotiivtioiiH  on  thn  l''oriiiiktion  of  Mr.  (Junning'it  Miniiitry — Chriitening 
of  Rohnrl  M('nrl«tt'ii  Son — Mr.  Honrliitt  A|>{)ointii<l  Atlorn«yO«n*r»l — 
Rfloi'ivon  hix  i'atnnt  m  King'*  (^ounool— Death  of  Mr.  Canning — Long 
Vacation  at  HiiKtingK. 

Temple,  Juno  I,  1S2B. 

My  dkah  HiMyriiKii: —  ...  I  know  from  umloubtiHl  authority 
thut  tilt!  ('Iiaii(!(>ll(>r  MiiyH  thu  following  iliulogtio  |)(M^c«l  iM'twuen 
him  Mu\  tlu!  King  la«t  Hunduy  wt.'»?k :  A'. — *  Well,  my  Lonl  Chun- 
oellor,  yon  ho(>  1  was  right  in  not  ootiHcnting  to  Mr.  Broughum 
having  u  »ilk  gown.  Yon  mm  how  Ik;  hiiH  Ixiuu  attacking  you.' 
C. — 'Sir,  your  Majwity  nuiy  have  tiiUHo  to  complain  of  Mr. 
Brouglmni,iin(l  I  niiiy  ImvoctiUHc  to  complain  of  him ;  but  from  hirt 
Htution  at  titc  l>ar,  and  the  injury  done  to  othcrn  hy  hiH  not  hav- 
ing rank,  I  am  bound  to  my  that  I  think  he  ouglit  to  have  it, 
and  I  again  imphu'c  your  Majesty  to  give  your  connent.'  A'.— 
'I'll  be  damned  if  I  do  while  I  continue  King  of  England.' 

Whether  this  Im  true  or  fabricated  by  the  Chancellor,  the 
inference  m  the  Hiitne.  It  was  this  anectdote  that  led  to  Brough- 
am's attack  upon  the  King,  and  inductHl  him  to  say  that  'ho  was 
'well  stricken  in  years,  aiul  that  he  hiul  no  consoientions  scruples 

of  any  sort upon  tlie  Catholic  question.'     Brougham  says 

that  in  this  pause  the  House  was  convulsed  with  laughter. 

July  5,  1825. 

,  .  .  That  you  may  see  that  I  may  become  a  Parliament  man, 
I  enclose  you  an  invitation  from  the  enlightened  and  immacu- 


,!     I 


440 


LIFE  OF   LOUD  CAMPBELL. 


[1825 


late  freemen  of  Stafford.  Nothing  will  come  of  it.  The  partv 
can  return  the  members,  I  believe — each  spending  ^£5000  or 
£6000. 

Shrewsbury,  Sunday,  July  31, 1825. 
My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  My  parliamentary  prospects  are 
bad.  Stafford  is  quite  hopeless.  I  could  easily  come  in,  and  for  less 
money  than  any  other  man,  but  I  find  the  expense  would  be 
enormous.  This  is  one  of  the  boroughs  in  which,  l)y  imme- 
morial usage,  voling-momy  is  established,  /.  f.,  a  certain  fixe<l 
sum  for  each  vote  on  whichever  side — here  £1  a  sinsrle  vote. 
£14  a  plumper,  to  be  paid  about  a  twelvemonth  after  the  elec- 
tion. In  Stafford  there  are  near  700  voters,  so  that  the  voting- 
money  must  be  calculated  between  £3000  and  £4000,  the 
expenses  during  election  being  not  much  le.*s.  I  see  no  hope  in 
any  other  quarter.  Scarlett  has  no  talent  for  intrigue  or  job- 
bery. Brougham  is  going  to  bring  in  his  own  brother  James, 
and  I  can  hardly  suppose  that  he  either  can  or  would  assist  me. 
If  he  thought  I  could  have  any  considerable  success  in  the 
House,  he  would  keep  me  out.  Tom  Campbell,  the  poet, 
described  him  to  me  the  other  day  in  Pope's  words  as  'the 
wisest,  brightest,  meanest  of  mankind,'  and  there  is  some  truth 
in  the  imputation;  fox*,  though  exceedingly  good-natured  and 
friendly,  he  has  ever  a  most  devoted  regard  to  his  own  fame  and 
advantage.  He  never  would  think  of  me  as  a  political  speaker, 
but  he  might  suppose  that  I  might  gain  such  a  reputation  that 
I  might  be  thought  of  for  Attorney-  or  Solicitor-General. 


Stafford,  September  13, 1823. 

My  dear  Brother: —  .  .  .  You  ought  not  to  hear  first 
from  the  public  paners  of  my  being  in  this  place  electioneering. 
I  am  engaged  in  a  very  foolish  attempt,  but  fate  drives  me  on. 
I  wrote  a  letter  to  the  borough,  about  a  week  ago,  declining  to 
come  forward  as  a  candidate.  On  Saturday  moi'ning  an  attor- 
ney from  Stafford  arrived  at  Abinger  to  state  that  the  electors! 
were  determined  to  have  me,  and  that  a  great  majority  of  them 


1825.] 


INVITATION  TO  STAND  FOR  STAFFORD. 


441 


were  willing  to  renounce  voting-money.  His  protestations  were  so 
strong  that  Scarlett  and  I  tlionght  it  would  be  worth  while  to 
show  myself.  Accordingly,  accompanieil  by  James  Scarlett 
(now  a  captain),  I  set  off  from  London  on  Sunday,  and  made  my 
public  entry  last  night.  It  is  impossible  yet  to  form  any  opinion 
of  the  real  sentiments  of  the  voters,  but  we  arc  just  going  to 
commence  the  canvass,  and  then  wo  shall  be  able  better  to  judge. 
All  calculation  is  against  me,  but  there  is  a  [Mtssibility  in  my 
favor.  You  cannot  say  now  that  I  do  nut  Ao,'*'  out  a  hand  to 
Fortune.  I  shall  write  to  you  a}j;ain  on  my  return  to  Abinger. 
Peter  Scarlett  is  going  out  to  Constantinople  nith  Stratford 
Canning  as  an  attache.  This  is  the  first  grade  in  the  diplomatic 
line. 

Abingor  Hall,  September  18, 182.5. 

My  DEAR  Brother: —  ...  I  got  back  here  on  Friday. 
The  newspapers  will  have  given  you  an  account  of  my  public 
proceetlings  at  Stafford.  I  have  really  very  little  private  infor- 
mation to  communicate.  The  result  is  quite  uncertain,  but  I  do 
not  yet  regret  engaging  in  the  adventure.  Were  Parliament  now 
dissolved,  I  really  believe  that  I  should  have  a  fair  chance.  They 
reckon  700  votei*s.  Two  members  are  to  be  returned,  and  I  had 
the  direct  positive  personal  promises  of  above  400.  The  ques- 
tion therefore  is  what  reliance  is  to  be  placed  on  such  promises. 
I  fear  not  much.  Many,  I  am  sure,  were  given  for  the  sake  of 
a  little  ale,  and  other  candidates,  I  dare  say,  will  have  promises 
from  the  same  persons.  But  at  present  I  am  certainly  very  pop- 
ular, and  when  they  have  promised  all,  I  rather  think  they  would 
vote  for  me.  Should  Parliament  not  be  dissolved  now,  I  appre- 
hend that  the  feelings  would  subside,  and  most  of  the  promises 
I  have  received  be  forgotten. 

As  to  the  probability  of  Parliament  being  dissolved,  you  know 
exactly  as  much  as  I  do.  Scarlett  met  Canning  in  the  North, 
but  could  get  nothing  out  of  him.  He  was  at  Bagshot*  a  few 
days  ago,  and  found  the  Duke  a  strong  dissolutionist,  but  his 

♦Bagshot  Park,  the  seat  of  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Gloucester. — Ed. 


^11' 


m 


m 


442 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1826. 

Royal  Highness  has  no  better  information  than  the  generality  of 
mankind.  By  the  bye,  he  is  now  reconciled  to  the  King  and  has 
dined  with  him.  The  overtures  came  from  his  Majesty,  who 
beliavcd  very  handsomely  on  this  occasion. 

I  am  living  mo&t  happily  here  at  present,  and  I  know  not  why 
I  should  wish  to  l)c  tossed  about  by  the  storms  of  public  life. 
Little  Loo  has  Iwcome  the  most  entertaining  and  the  sweetest 
child  in  the  workl.  Fretl  likewise  thrives  very  much,  and  trots 
■on  all  foul's  from  one  end  of  the  room  to  the  other  that  he  may 
have  a  rido  on  my  foot. 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  April  28, 1826. 

Dear  George  : — The  di.ssolution  is  to  be  on  the  20th— or 
"24th — of  May.  T  shall  certainly  go  down  and  take  my  chance 
fit  Stafford.  My  courage  rises — not  that  my  chance  either  improves 
or  becomes  worse ;  but  I  think  I  see  the  worst  of  it,  which  Is 
losing  the  election  and  spending  a  sum  of  money  which  will  not 
ruin  me.  The  present  state  of  affairs  is  rather  favorable  to  a  can- 
didate who  does  not  bribe  or  pay  voting  money,  The  King  is 
supposed  to  be  dying,  and  a  vote  in  the  Plouse  of  Commons  is 
of  no  value.  Ministers  have  annihilated  opposition  by  the  lib- 
eral system  they  have  pursued.  Unhappily  there  are  no  longer 
any  urgent  and  crying  grievances.  What  can  be  complained  of 
In  the  foreign  or  domestic  policy  of  the  Government?  Poor 
Brougham  is  left  like  a  tish  on  drv  land  a\  hen  the  sea  suddenly 
retires.  You  can  hardly  iningine  the  degree  to  wlii*^b  he  droops. 
He  has  lost  his  spirits  altogether,  and  is  quite  flac  i/jth  in  busi- 
ness and  in  societv. 


Stafford,  Wodnesda}'  morning,  June  7. 

Dear  GEORra;: — I  can  as  yet  say  very  little  to  relieve  your 
suspense.  Wc  consider  that  we  are  going  on  prosperously,  but  our 
opponents  are  still  in  the  field,  and  the  event  remains  uncertain. 
The  election  begins  on  Friday,  and  will  be  over  on  Saturday 
night.  Of  course  I  shall  acquaint  you  with  the  result  before  I 
leave  Stafford. 


1826.] 


DEFEATED  AT  THE  ELECTION. 


443 


I  entered  the  town  on  Monday,  when  I  was  drawn  around  the 
streets,  and  made  spowhci  for  an  hour  or  two.  I  then  canvassed 
till  seven,  when  wo  had  a  walking  procession  and  more  speak- 
ing. Yesterday  Mas  spent  much  in  the  same  way.  I  am 
decidedly  more  i)opular  than  my  oi)ponents,  but  they  likcM  iso 
have  their  grand  shows,  and  they  contrive  to  collect  a  great  mob 
at  their  heels. 

Ryan,  the  barrister,  accompanies  mo,  and  is  of  grea*-  service  to 
me.*  James  Scarlett  arrived  from  Sheffield  on  Monday  evening, 
and  is  a  great  favorite  with  the  ladies — who  all  support  our 
cause. 

To-day  and  to-morrow  we  shall  occupy  in  the  admission  of 
freemen  who  have  a  right,  by  birth  or  apprenticeship,  to  be  put 
upon  the  burgesses'  roll,  with  processions  and  speechifying.  I 
stand  upon  the  cry  of  *  No  Towheads ' — which,  when  I  explain 
it  to  you,  you  will  find  to  be  as  sensible  and  much  less  discredit- 
able than  the  cry  of  *  No  Popery.'f 

There  was  once  a  notion  of  Mary  accompanying  me.  I  thank 
heaven  that  she  did  not.  The  whole  town  is  in  a  state  of  per- 
petual intoxication. 

New  Street,  Sunday,  June  11, 1826. 

Dear  George: — You  are  aware  of  my  defeat.  I  would 
have  written  to  you  from  Stafford  had  I  not,  according  to  eti- 
quette, left  the  town  as  soon  as  the  poll  was  over.  I  never 
stopped  till  I  reached  this  house.  At  the  final  blow  the  num- 
bers were :  Ironmonger  609,  Benson  487,  Cami)bell  406.  I 
am  defeated  but  not  dl^'graced.  Could  the  result  have  been  fore- 
seen, of  course  I  should  not  have  engaged  in  the  enterprise,  but 
nothing  has  ocfnu-red  to  sht)w  that  a  prudent  man  ought  to  have 
avoided  it.     Had  not  some  circumstances  occurred  that  could 


*  Sir  Edward  Ryan,  afterwards  a  member  of  the  Judicial  Committee  of  the 
Privy  Council.     He  died  October,  1875. — Ed. 

f 'Towheads'  meant  freemen  admitted  by  a  vote  of  the  Common  Council 
without  a  right  by  birth  or  apj.renticeship.  The  Court  of  King's  Bench  had 
«'->*trmined  that  these  were  not  lawful  freemen. 


'ih 


444 


LIFE  OP  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1826. 


not  have  been  calculated  upon,  I  should  In  all  probability  have 
been  returned.  In  the  first  place  my  principal  uj^cnt  was  taken 
dangerously  ill  about  ten  days  bcf(trc  the  clcctitju  boj^an,  and  his 
brother,  on  whom  1  then  almost  entirely  depcndwl,  expected  to 
hear  of  his  death  every  hour.  Thus  we  had  no  arraufijements 
of  any  sort.  The  chance  of  success  was  considerably  diminished, 
and  the  expense  considerably  increased.  lint  what  chiefly  injured 
me  wiuj  a  determination  of  the  mayor,  who  is  retiu-ning  otlicer, 
to  admit  a  class  of  noi.  icsident  freemen  who  had  not  been 
allowed  to  poll  at  the  two  last  elections.  This  was  conununicated 
long  before  to  my  opponents,  who  collected  them  from  all  parts 
of  England,  but  I  only  knew  it  two  days  before,  and  I  could 
only  procure  the  attendance  of  su(!h  as  were  in  my  favor  and 
were  living  in  Wolverhampton,  Bilston,  Birmingham  and  the 
adjoining  country.  -  "'1,  although  Ironmonger  took  the  lead 
from  the  starting  and  ilccidedly  kej)t  it,  Benson  and  I  ran  neck 
and  netik  the  whole  of  the  first  day.  The  electors  poll  alpha- 
betically, as  their  names  are  called  from  the  ourgesses'  roll.  At 
the  close  of  the  Friday's  poll  we  had  got  through  the  N's,  and 
I  wa.s  only  six  behind.  Mad  the  adjournment  taken  place  at  the 
time  first  appointed,  1  should  have  been  two  or  three  ahead. 
Now  began  the  struggle  of  corruption.  You  know  that  every 
vote  given  against  me  was  to  be  paid  for  after  the  election,  but 
Benson  would  not  now  trust  to  this.  He  sent  his  agents  about  the 
town,  openly  ofi'ering  money  to  be  instantly  paid  to  those  who 
would  turn  from  me.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  my  people,  not 
only  without  my  privity,  but  contrary  to  my  express  orders, 
made  similar  attempt.*^,  and  did  ])urchase  ten  or  twelve  of  his 
votes.  While  I  must  admit  that  I  considered  the  Acts  against 
treating  obsolete  according  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Scotch  law, 
projjosals  of  bribery  I  strenuously  resisted.  Benson  stuck  at 
nothing,  and  in  the  night  he  gained  many  more  than  he  lost. 
From  his  being  ahead  at  the  close  of  the  poll,  there  was  likewise 
a  strong  notion  that  he  would  win,  and  a  strong  inclination  to 
desert  to  him.  Till  noon  on  the  second  day  I  was  not  more  than 
ten  behind,  but  from  that  time  my  chance  was  all  over.  I  believe 


1826.] 


INCIDENTS  OP  THE  ELKCT[(>.\. 


445 


he  was  origiimlly  Htrong  in  the  T's  and  the  W'h,  and  several 
joined  liiin  tiiat  they  n»if?ht  side  with  the  eonciueror.  One  fellow 
8ai<l  openly  that  he  had  never  before  voted  for  two  8U(!ceasful 
candidates,  hut  that  he  was  now  determined  to  do  so.  My  deepest 
disai>pointnient  was  the  fli-st  vote  that  was  given.  At  the  head 
of  the  roll  .stands  James  Allan,  a  very  old  man,  who  professed 
himself  so  hearty  in  my  cause,  that  on  Tuesday  lie  assured  me 
that,  when  his  name  was  called,  he  should  jump  upon  the  table 
and  say — 

I'm  the  shepherd  of  the  flo'-k, 

And  all  shall  follow  me; 
I  a  plumper  to  Campbell  will  give, 

And  he  our  member  shall  be. 

When  I  spied  him  in  court  on  Friday  morniiig  he  would  not 
meet  my  eye,  and  when  called  to  poll  he  .said,  with  a  downcast 
countenance,  'Benson  and  Ironmonger,'  repeating  some  doggrel 
in  their  praise. 

As  soon  as  the  numbers  •were  finally  ascertained,  I  addres.sed 
the  electors,  annouiuicd  my  defeat,  thanked  my  friends  for  the 
support  I  had  received,  and  withdrew.  I  escaped  the  humiliation 
which  Ben.son  proposed  to  mc,  that  I  should  stay  to  hear  him 
panegyrize  mc.  He  is  a  ruined  gamester,  and  how  he  has 
mustered  ready  mon(!y  for  the  clcc^tiuu  no  one  can  tell.  He  will 
probably  never  pay  his  bills  or  the  burgesses.  Fronmongei-  pays 
faithfully,  and  has  nothing  else  to  recommend  him.  He  was 
twice  a  candidate  here  before,  and  both  times  those  who  voted 
for  him  received  the  usual  doucenv.  He  was  a  great  coach  pro- 
jn'ietor,  and  has  now  the  ai)i)earance  and  manners  of  a  coachman 
accustoiaed  to  drive  the  night  heavy  to  Birmingham.  Hesiitall 
day  at  the  right  hand  of  the  mayor,  drinking  porter  and  brandv 
and  water. 

I  never  met  with  an  uncivil  expression  during  the  wliole 
election.  At  this  moment  I  think  I  would  not  again  go  through 
such  a  week  of  toil  and  anxiety,  if  I  were  sure  to  be  elected. 
The  Avant  of  system  .iid  i^reparation,  and  the  entire  uncertainty 
as  to  my  real  situation,  gave  me  more  to  endure  than  will  probably 


iiii 


ii  r 


440 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[182C. 

full  to  the  lot  of  any  unfoi'tmmtc  caiuliilate  in  the  United 
Kingdom.  J  nuiat  my  that  I  Iku'o  my  revc'r.se  with  nmj^nunimity. 
1  not  oidy  pnwrvod  a  Hmiling  face  to  vhwv  my  tVit-ntls  at  tho 
poll,  but  1  sulHliicd  my  mind  to  n«y  fircunuxtancts,  an<l  pifHorvotl 
my  fortitmlo  unshaken.  Once  oidy  I  kwt  the  ('(tmniand  over 
myself.  When  I  had  returned  fr(»m  the  hall,  after  F  had  taken 
leave  of  tho  eleetorw,  I  opened  a  letter  IVom  Mary,  in  whieh  who 
anticipatetl  the  joy  she  would  feel  when  nhe  wiw  me  come  baek 
crowned  with  victory.  This  wa.s  rather  too  much  for  mc,  and  I 
was  greatly  relievetl  by  a  go(Ml  hearty  cry.  I  had  excellent  8U[)- 
ports  in  Ryan  and  James  Scarlett.  The  latter  rendered  him«elf 
so  popular  that  I  was  a  little  jealous  of  him,  iiiid  he  was  strongly 
pressed  to  start  as  a  candidate  himsell*.  As  soon  as  th'  election 
was  over,  he  posted  oft'  for  Sheftield  to  rejoin  his  regiment. 
Ryan  ac(!ompanicd  mc  on  my  journey  as  far  as  Wolverhampton, 
whence  he  proceeded  to  attend  another  contested  election  at  Bridge- 
north.  I  had  a  dismal  journey  when  left  to  my  own  contempla- 
tions ;  but  all  my  vexations  and  disappointments  were  forgotten 
when  I  had  embraced  my  dear  Mary. 

I  am  quite  well,  except  that  I  have  almost  entirely  lost  my 
voice  by  speaking  so  much  and  so  loud ;  and  that  my  right  arm 
aches  a  good  deal,  from  the  violent  shaking  of  hands  with  the 
electors. 

Write  to  me  a  letter  of  consolation  immediately.  I  do  not 
yet  despair  of  being  in  the  House  of  Connnons.  Scarlett  stood 
two  contests  for  Lewes  before  he  was  returned  for  Peterborough. 


Weymouth,  Sumlay,  June  25. 

Dear  George  : — Here  I  am  in  a  terrible  scrape.  I  came 
down  on  Tuesda:*  (to  assist  in  repairing  my  l)rokcn  fortunes) 
with  a  fee  of  300  guineas  as  counsel  at  the  election,  thinking  that 
it  would  be  over  on  Thursday  or  Friday.  It  still  pnut'cds, 
and  will  proceed  to  the  last  hour  when  the  poll  may  be  kept 
open.  .  .  . 

Tuesday  at  three  o'clock. — My  business  in  London  must  be 


1826.] 


COUNSEL  AT  THE  WEYMOUTH    EI-ECTION. 


447 


goiug  to  uttor  ruin.  But  they  Miy  )u>ri>t)iat  tlio  cloction  (1c|)C!k1h 
upon  int'^  und  wtay  I  nuiHt.  From  fati}j;ue,  heat  atul  aiixioty,  I 
have  been  unwell,  and  heaven  knows  what  would  have  become 
of  me  if  Mary  had  not  accompanied  me.  .  .  . 

Thifi  is  not  the  firHt  time  that  I  have  descended  from  the 
character  of  candidate  to  that  of  counsel.  I  was  two  or  three 
days  at  Lichfield,  and  brought  home  200  guineas  with  me. 
These  fees  would  have  api)eared  respectable  to  mc  in  former 
times,  but  they  will  go  so  short  a  way  in  defraying  the  expenses 
of  my  own  election,  that  they  hardly  operate  at  all  as  a  stimulus, 
and  I  find  the  work  exceedingly  irksome. 

[In  the  Autobiography  there  is  the  following  notice  of  this 
election  at  Weymouth. — Ed.]  : 

.  .  .  The  elec^tion  lasted  fourteen  days.  I  j>resume  under  the 
new  system  the  contest  is  there  over  in  a  few  hours.  The 
election  Avas  held  in  a  small  room,  to  reach  which  wc  had  ta 
mount  a  ladder  and  enter  by  the  window,  on  account  of  the 
crowd  on  the  staircase.  The  chief  right  of  voting  was  the  title 
to  any  portion  of  certain  ancient  rents  within  the  borough,  and 
several  voted  as  entitled  to  an  undivided  twentieth  part  of 
sixpence.  The  conveyances  to  these  qualifications  Avere  to  be 
strictly  investigated,  long  arguments  were  addressed  to  the 
returning  oificer,  and  the  decision  of  a  single  vote,  like  the  trial 
of  an  ejectment  at  the  assizes,  sometimes  lasted  a  whole  day. 
When  we  harp  upon  the  defects  of  the  Reform  Bill,  Ave  are  too- 
apt  to  forget  the  abuses  Avhich  it  has  corrected. 


1:1:1, 


Temple,  August  18, 1826. 

Dear  George: — I  cannot  help  being  sensibly  touched  by  the 
interest  you  show  in  all  that  concerns  me. 

I  succeeded  in  everything  on  the  circuit.  .  .  .  Maule  said  ta 
me :  *  You  have  such  luck  at  present  that  if  you  were  to  drop 
a  ring  into  the  Severn,  you  would  be  helped  to  a  slice  of  salmon 
at  dinner  to-morroAV  Avith  the  ring  contained  in  it.' 


I    l!li 


III'! 


1      J 


LIPK  OV   LUItl)  CAMl'UKI.L. 


[1820. 


Tronnioiigor'M  <lcatli  cauf^ori  iiu!  w)iiu>  ornhnrruMHnioiit,  and  i^ 
not  likely  to  do  iiic  any  giKHl,  further  than  making  my  name  Imj 
a  little  longer  t;dked  of  w  conneetcd  with  the  Imrough  of 
Stuiford.  There  \»  u  pofwibiiity  of  my  obtaining  ovitlenec  of 
Ironmonger'8  brilxjry  to  MUeh  an  extent  an  would  Heat  me ;  hut 
thiH  mu^)t  be  very  diffieult,  a.<4  I  murit  rthow  a  Huffiei(>nt  number 
brilnul  to  reduce  his  i)oll  Ix'low  400.  In  the  event  of  another 
election,  I  hhould  have  no  cIuuhh*  to  Ik>  returned  without  a  HerioiiH 
conte.it,  in  whi(fh  I  am  resolved  I  will  not  again  involve  mvHelf. 

To-morrow  ut  eleven  wo  embark  at  the  Tower  for  Calais.  We 
are  going  to  make  a  little  tour  of  the  Rhine  into  SwiwHerland, 
returning  by  Parin.  Louise  Scarlett  accompanies  us.  The 
Chief  Justice  sits  on  October  10,  and  we  |)ropose  to  Ikj  absent 
exactly  seven  weeks.  This  journey  will  cost  me  very  little  more 
than  if  I  had  tiiken  a  house  at  the  seaside,  which  I  nuist  other- 
wise have  done ;  and  I  am  glad  to  give  Mary  a  little  amusement 
after  the  horroi-s  of  the  election. 

Temple,  October  7,  182<!. 

Dear  Geouoe: — We  arrival  safe  in  New  Street  last  night. 
Our  tour  continued  very  prosperous.  We  visited  Zurich,  liagat/, 
Lucerne,  Berne,  &c.,  returning  by  Bc'tancon,  Dijon,  and  Ti'oyes. 
Twice  Ave  were  within  a  day's  journey  of  Italy,  by  crossing  the 
Splugon,  or  Mont  St.  Gothard,  and  I  had  a  strong  desire  again 
to  visit  its  sunny  regions.  My  love  of  travelling  is  by  no  moans 
extinguished,  but  it  will  probably  be  a  long  while  before  1  again 
cross  the  Channel. 

Law  changes  are  quite  immaterial  to  me.  The  only  offer 
which  could  by  possibility  be  made  to  me  woiild  hv  a  judgeship, 
and  I  would  rather  escape  the  responsibility  of"  refusiug  ii. 


Court  of  King's  Bench,  November. 

Dear  George: —  .  .  .  You  will  see  that  Beaumont  is  returned 
for  Stafford.  I  sent  him  there,  that  the  world  might  .see  what 
Stafford  is,  and  not  blame  me  for  relinquishing  it.  On  his 
entering  the  town,  by  way  of  forei'aste,  he  gave  a  £1  Bank  of 


1826.] 


I.EOAL   ANTICIPATIONS. 


440 


England  note  to  ovury  voter  who  uppliiHl  tor  it ;  and  ho  soon 
distributed  us  niuny  bank-notes  m  there  are  voters  in  the  plaoe. 
They  put  them  in  their  hatu,  and  o|)enly  |)araded  the  streets  with 
them  by  way  of  cookudes,  No  credit  would  be  given  for  voting- 
money  for  more  than  Ave  minutes  after  the  vote  was  given. 
Having  voted,  the  voter  liad  a  cartl,  which  ho  carried  to  an 
adjoining  puhliti-houHc,  and  which  instantly  produced  him  eight 
guinctts.  When  the  election  was  over,  Ikaumont,  in  a  publio 
oration,  told  them  that  he  had  obtained  their  Huifrages  by  means 
perhaps  not  altogether  constitutional,  but  he  ho|)ed  the  money 
would  do  them  giKxl,  and  Ik;  of  service  to  their  families — ujion 
which  they  loudly  cheered  him.  I  think  the  borough  will  very 
likely  be  diHfnmchiHcd.  I  have  no  more  pro«|)ect  of  getting  into 
the  House  of  CommouH  than  of  being  made  a  Prince  of  the  Blood. 

I  had,  however,  more  loading  briefs  at  the  laHt  sittings  than  I 
4!vcr  had  Ixiforc.  I  was  in  the  Exclio(|uer  alxmt  ten  days  ago. 
When  the  ciiiiHe  was  over  the  Chief  Huron  calletl  me  into  his 
private  room  and  said  that,  when  there  was  to  Iw  any  promotiou 
at  tJic  bar,  he  would  urge  my  claims  to  the  Chancellor. 

The  Duke  of  York  is  worse,  and  is  not  expected  to  live  a 
mouth.*  They  dried  up  the  watcsr  by  a  decoction  of  broom,  but 
his  stomach  is  gone  and  his  legs  are  mortifying.  There  is  a  good 
deal  of  sympathy  felt  for  him.  Excej)t  his  bigoted  views  of  the 
Ctitluilic  question  nothing  can  be  said  against  him,  and  he  is  the 
best  of  the  wliole  family.  But  his  removal  at  present  must  be  a 
great  ])ublic  benefit.  There  is  a  general  feeling  that  Catholic 
Emancipation  cannot  be  much  longer  delayed. 


House  of  Lords,  Wednesday.  November,  1826. 

Dkau  Georok  :  —I  have  now  the  mortification  of  seeing 
]x)rd  Eldon  sitting  before  in(!  on  the  woolsack,  and  there  I  shall 
see  him  ten  years  hence,  if  I  live  so  long.  He  has  begun  to  hear 
appeals  to-day,  and  I  am  in  the  first.  The  science  of  law  seems 
to  decline  sadly  in  Scotland.     The  decision  of  the  judges  in  the 


*  Ho  died  January  0, 1827.— Ed. 
VOL.  I. 


19" 


4ao 


LIFE  OF   IX)ItD  CAMFBELL 


[1827. 


ouiT  wc  arp  now  arKuiii(i;  in  iiumt  <lii«^ru(i>i'iilly  wionjj,  and  the 
rtiUMjiis  tlu'y  ii'iw  for  it  ubnoluU'ly  f<)<>li«h. 

I  iliiw.l  ti  H'w  «Ia).'<  ago  with  thi'  mw  M.wtcr  of  the  RoIIh.*' 
lie  is  *|iiit«>  nil)  )tuti);ctl,  and  MiM.>ukH  on  jtublic  topics  in  Im  wonted 
niannor.  IIo  Kiid  :  *  I  hear  Shudwi>l|  (who  in  now  fitting  clorto 
by  ni<  ,  iK'ing  my  «'oll«'agU4')  \n\n  had  hoiih'  iww  lij(hl-  on  tho  Catho- 
lic qui  stion,  and  thiiikH  there  niij^hl  Im'  great  (hinder  in  ^nuiting 
further  coneeHttionH  to  the  Catholies,  and  that  h(!  is  to  !><>  the  next 
Holieitor-Cieneral.'  Of  Warren  h«;  «aid  :  '  I'oor  W'ai  nn,  he  did 
not  know  liow  to  carry  it  tttV.  Ife  defendcil  liiniHell  misteud  of 
atU^eking  hi?*  aecuwrs.'  I  wiw  incflineil  to  my,  'Jllv  crucem  scd- 
eris,'     You  have  a  crown  and  he  has  a  (rroHs.f 

Term  enth-d  yentcrday.  Hetweeii  .Vovendxjr  6  and  28, 1  made 
above  5oO  guineiw. 


Court  ot  King'tt  Bench,  UniMlmll,  February  -',  IS27, 

Deah  (jFoiujk: —  .  .  .  Xothiii:;  is  at  this  luoment  thouglil 
of  but  the  division  on  the  Catholit;  <|uestion.  On  thin  everything 
de|H>nd.s.  Jf  it  it*  hwt  there  will  l)e  an  ultra-Tory  Adnn'nistration 
iurined,  and  we  shall  soon  have  a  civil  war.  If  it  Ix^  earrie«l  by 
anything  of  a  majority,  Canning  will  Im;  firmly  seated,  and 
national,  party  and  private  pntspects  will  !)<■  eneourajring.  lioth 
purtieH  talk  contidently.J  I  am  by  no  means  sanguine  ;  I  fear 
that  the  King,  notwithstanding  his  professions,  has  a  disinclina- 
tion to  Canning,  and  is  intriguing  tigainst  him.  The  RutlandH, 
Jjonsdales,  Ueauforta,  &v.,  have  such  an  antipathy  to  C-anning 
that  they  wiy  they  would  rather  sec  Lord  (»rey  Prime  Mirtister. 
liord  Jjiverpool  is  completely  hora  rfr  romhaf,  notwithstanding  the 
foolish  paragraph  about  his  recovery.  I  met  Sir  Henry  ITalford 
lately  at  dinner  at  the  new  Baron's,  and  he  told  uw,  that  he  could 
only  be  made  to  Bay  Yen  or  No,  and  that  his  recovery  was  impos- 
sible. 


*8ir  J.  Copley  succeeded  Lord  Oifford,  who  died  September  4, 1826. — Ed. 
f'Jlle  crucempretium  tcelerU  lulit,  hie  diadema' — Juvenul,  Sat.  xiii.  105. 
J  The  divipion  on  a  resolution  in  favor  of  Catholic  cl.viras  took  place  March 
7, 1827— ayes  272,  noes  276.— Ed. 


1827.] 


DRATII  or  MAItV    UnUCK. 


461 


On  Stttiiitlny  wtt  wcru  ut  u  ^miul  iliiiiicr  ut  No,  4* — t\w  Duke 
of  OluU(«'j«t«'i',  IMiinliot,  Sn\  Tin*  Diiki'  Im  to  in*  KtNllatlicr  to 
IIoIhtI'h  m>ii,  who  ho  m\K  will  In>  tin-  tliini  l<ort|  Al>int(i>r.  Ho 
toKi  Miifv  that  thin  wmh  thi>  lint  rirniit  h<>r  tiilhcr  woiilil  lA'cr  ){(» 
0(4  cotinM'!.  Itiit  he  liiis  iiilkt'd  ill  thin  Htyl«>  any  tiiiit*  thcM>  t<<n 
yoaiN,aii(l  not  thi'  rtli);'lii<>nt  rr^anj  i<<  to  hr  ihiIiI  to  hi^  [^iliftionN. 
If  lionl  haiiH«|owii(>  worr  to  foiiH'  in,  S«'arh'tt  iiiiKht  follow  in 
hiM  train;  hut  thr  Catholic  <|(i«>?«tioti  is  an  iiiHii|M>ral>1«>  olwtiu'lo, 
uud  tho  Lonl  ( 'hanccllor  and  tlw  Piikc  of  Wellington  arc  at  |in«- 
cnt  greatly  t(M)  Ntroiig  to  toleratf  miicIi  an  arraiifrenuMit.  S-arlett 
lately  met  the  Duke  of  Clarenee  at  Lord  IlollandV.  He  wutt 
wry  civil  to  him,  and  al)U.-«t>d  the  ( 'hanccllor.  IIu  it*  hucIi  a  wild 
huruin  varum  Hort  of  fellow  that  no  mortal  can  tell  what  he 
would  ilo.  IIu  Hiiid  hu  knew  nothing  «>f  the  prcMint  MiiiiHtcrn, 
and  that  hu  never  wtw  in  Canning's  company  more  than  one4>  in 

his  life. 

Sliiowolmry,  March  HO,  1827,  eleven  at  night. 

Dkar  Okoiujk: —  .  .  .  Poor  Mary  Rruce's  death  bringH 
hack  Httd  r<H'()lle«tion.s.  I  very  much  approve  of  your  erecting 
u  8tone  to  re<!ord  her  faitjiful  nerviciw  and  our  gratitude.f 


*Mr.  Scarlett'*  houMe,  4  New  Strcpt,  .Spring  Onrdonn — Kd. 
t  He  wrote  the  following  iniicniilion  tor  the  Btone,  which  was  placed  over 
btr  grave  in  the  churchyard  at  Cu|).ar : 

Tlllli  ■TONB 

IH  IRKOTKI)  TO  rOMMRMORATB 

TBB  rAITIIPl'I.    HBKVICKM  AMU   ■IMITI.EilN   CRARAOTia 

or 
MAHV  HUUC'K, 

WHO  CARRrm.l.Y   AND  TKNDKItl.r   RRARBD 

THK  NKVKN  CIIII.OItRN  OP 

I'lIK   IIKV.  DR.  OKOKOK  CAMPBELL, 

MINIMTKU  or  Tllla   PAIilMH, 

AHD  LIVRl)  AH  A   OOMICMTIC  IN    IIIM  FAMILT 

UCWAUlNt  OK  rOBTY   YKAK8? 

MOMB  OP  TII08I  CUILDRRN 

BAD  THK  HATIHKACmoir  TO  WATCH  OVBR 

'  URR  OROLININO  YBARM, 

AM>  THBY    HAVB  ALL  UNITRD 

IN    PAYIHO  TO   HER  MRMORY 

THIM  TRIBUTB 

OF  AFrK<T10N  AND  nHATITXTDI. 

•BE  niKU  ON  THK  2'JNU  DAY  OP  MARCB,  1837, 

IN  TBI  70TU  YEAR  OP  UBR  AOB. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


i:  lit  12.0 

u 


112 


|L8 


VMULii^ 

< 

6"     

► 

Photogra|iiic 

Sciences 

Corporalion 


'^>^ 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14SM 

(716)  •72-4503 


■^ 


.* 


p 


462 


LIFE  OF  LORD  OAMPBELL. 


[1827. 


I  ought  to  have  got  so  far  to-night  on  my  way  to  Hereford, 
but  we  have  a  long  day's  work  before  us,  and  I  shall  be  obliged 
to  travel  all  to-morrow  night.  You  can  hardly  form  a  notion 
of  the  life  of  labor,  anxiety  and  privation  whidi  I  lead  upon 
the  circuit.  I  am  up  every  morning  by  six.  I  never  get  out  of 
court  till  seven,  eight  or  nine  in  the  evening,  and,  having  swal- 
lowed any  indifferent  fare  that  my  clerk  provides  for  me  at  my 
lodgings,  I  have  consultations  and  read  briefs  till  I  fall  asleep. 
This  arises  very  much  from  the  incompetence  of  the  judge.  It 
is  from  the  incompetency  of  judges  that  the  chief  annoyances  I 
have  in  life  arise.  I  could  myself  have  disposed  of  the  causes 
here  in  half  the  time  the  judge  employed.  He  has  tried  two 
causes  in  four  days.     Poor  fellow,  he  is  completely  knocked  up. 

Nothing  is  settled  or  known  about  the  new  Administration."' 
The  notion  gains  ground  that  Canning  will  be  Premier.  This 
must  be  under  many  and  great  restrictions.  However,  if  he  is 
skilful  and  lucky,  he  may  gain  a  complete  ascendency. 


Gloucester,  April  17, 1827. 

Deab  George  : —  ...  I  presume  you  take  a  lively  interest 
in  these  ministerial  changes.  This  certainly  is  the  crisis  of  my 
fortunes.  If  Scarlett  has  the  Great  Seal,  everything  is  open  to 
me,  but  whether  the  circumstance  of  his  not  being  a  Chancery 
man  will  be  considered  an  insuperable  objection,  I  know  not.  I 
have  heard  nothing  from  him,  and  I  do  not  even  know  if  he  be 
arrived  from  the  circuit.  I  may  calculate  upon  a  silk  gown 
before  the  next  circuit. 

Ju(]ge  still  keeps  us  at  Gloucester.    The  men  of  this 

circuit  are  exceedingly  irregular  in  their  mode  of  doing  busi- 
ness, and  he  is  quite  incapable  of  controlling  them.  I  am 
afraid  I  look  for  contradictory  and  inconsistent  qualifications  in 
judges,  but  indeed  the  present  set  are  exceedingly  bad.  The 
degraded  state  of  the  bench  we  owe,  among  other  blessings,  to 
John  Lord  Elden,  whom  I  do  seriously  and  dispassionately 

•  On  the  death  of  Lord  Liverpool.— Ed. 


1827.] 


MB.  OANKHro'S  ADMUnSTRATION. 


463 


regard  as  one  of  the  greatest  curses  ever  inflicted  upon  this  coun- 
try. How  I  shall  rejoice  when  he  is  actually  out !  Till  he  lias 
(le  facto  given  up  the  seals,  I  shall  always  be  afraid  of  some  ruse 
of  the  Devil  to  keep  him  in  office. 

New  Street,  Sunrky  night,  April  22, 1827. 

Dear  Geokoe: — Nothing  is  deterniined  at  this  moment, 
either  as  to  the  Whigs  as  a  party,  or  as  to  Scarlett  individually. 
On  Friday  the  negotiation  between  Canning  and  Lord  Laus- 
downe  was  broken  off — ^very  foolishly,  1  think,  on  the  part  of 
his  lordship.  Canning  offered  him  four  seats  in  the  Cabinet, 
an<l  that,  out  of  eleven,  there  should  only  Ix;  two  anti-Catholics, 
Copley  and  Jjord  Bexli'y.  So  far  Lord  Lau!*downe  was  quite 
satisfied,  but  he  requiretl  a  i)lt'dge  that  in  Ireland  the  Ijortl  Lieu- 
tenant, the  Chancellor,  and  the  Secretary  should  be  CJatholic 
To  thifj  the  King  would  not  agree.  There  was  a  general  dissat- 
isfaction at  Brook.s's  with  Lord  I^ansdowne's  resolution,  and  he 
was  strongly  remonstrated  with.  In  consequence,  the  negotia- 
tion was  again  openal  yesterday,  and  the  Duke  of  Devonnhire 
was  sent  down  to  Bowowl,  where  Loixl  Lansdowne  had  gone. 
He  is  not  expected  back  till  to-morrow  morning.  Brougham 
and  Denman,  and  all  the  most  violent  of  the  Whig  party,  are 
decidedly  for  8upix)rting  Canning  against  the  Tories,  and  ai'c 
incensetl  against  the  Whig  loi-ds  for  not  taking  office  along  with 
him.  I  think  Brouglmni  will  join  him  himself,  if  others  do  not. 
He  said  to  me  yesterday  very  truly :  *  My  support  in  the  House 
of  Commons  is  of  much  more  importance  than  Lansdowne's  in 
the  House  of  Loi-ds.' 

On  Friday  Canning  sent  for  Scarlett,  and  expressed  regret 
that,  from  his  being  out  of  town,  he  had  not  been  able  to  make 
him  the  channel  of  communication  with  Lord  Lansdowne.  He 
said  he  wishe<l  him  to  have  the  highest  judicial  situation  in  the 
conmion  law,  but  there  was  a  difficulty  from  the  claim  of  the 
men  who  might  hold  the  office  of  Attorney  and  Solicitor-Gen- 
eral. He  had  kept  the  office  of  Attorney-General  vacant  for 
him,  and  hoped  he'  would  accept  it.    Scarlett  said  he  must  oon- 


464 


LIPE  OF  liORD  CAMPBEIJi. 


[1827. 


salt  his  friends,  particularly  Lord  Lansdownc,  Lord  Holland, 
and  Lord  Fitswilliam.  Canning  answered  that  that  was  what 
he  expected.  Lord  Lansdowne  and  Lord  Holland  advise  him 
strongly  to  accept.  Lord  Fitzwilliam,  who  is  at  Milton,  has 
K«n  written  to,  and  his  answer  will  be  received  to-morrow. 

You  know  all.  I  need  not  say  that  I  communicate  these 
things  to  you  in  great  confidence. 

I  shall  exceedingly  regret  if  the  Whig  leaders  are  so  infatuated 
as  to  refuse  to  come  in.  They  mny  have  a  great  part  of  the 
government  now,  and  probably  the  whole  at  no  distant  period. 
Every  object  for  which  they  have  been  struggling  would  be  fur- 
thered by  their  accession  to  office,  and  their  holding  back  will 
probably  have  the  effect  of  throwing  everything  into  the  hands 
of  the  intolerants. 

We  had  a  grand  christening  yesterday  at  No.  4.*  Not  only 
the  Duke  but,  as  a  most  distinguished  nnd  extraordinary  honor, 
the  Duchess  graced  the  ceremony.  Her  behavior  was  most 
amiable  and  engaging.  He  (although  exceedingly  affable)  is  a 
little  pompous  and  condescending.  She  is  quite  unaffected  and 
unpretending,  and  only  desirous  to  appear  a  lady  among  ladies. 
She  sang,  and  mentioned  how  the  old  King  liked  to  hear  his 
children  sing,  he  having  five  daughtera  and  four  sons  who  were 
all  musical.  Loo  and  Fred  came  to  pay  their  respects  to  their 
RR.  HH.,  and  were  received  with  great  distinction. 

The  Duchess  told  Scarlett  that  the  King  said  to  her  a  few 
days  ago :  *  Mary,  Mr.  Scarlett  is  a  great  friend  of  yours,  is  not 
he?  Do  you  think  he  will  join  us?  Should  I  like  him?' 
Duohem. — 'Sir,  1  am  very  intimate  with  him.  He  will  do 
nothing  inconsistent  with  his  principles;  but  I  am  sure  you 
would  like  him  very  much.'    Kirtg. — 'Well,  we  shall  soon  see.' 

The  Duke  congratulated  me  on  the  certainty  of  my  having  a 
silk  gown  immediately.  I  suppose  this  will  be  so,  and  this  is 
all  the  promotion  I  shall  ever  have.  But  it  is  whimsical  to 
think  that  it  was  upon  the  cards  that  I  might  have  been 
Solicitor-General.     If  the  King  had  not  insisted  on  having  an 


*  Of  William  Frederick  Scarlett,  now  third  Baron  Abinger.— Ed. 


1827.]     BOARLETT  APPOINTED  ATTORNEY-OENERAL.  466 

anti-Catholio  Chancellor,  Scarlett  might  have  been  taken  in 
preference  to  Copley,  and  then  it  would  not  have  been  more 
than  five  to  one  against  my  being  appointed  Solicitor-General. 
But  there  will  be  a  change  of  Ministry  before  there  is  any  fur- 
ther promotion  ;  and,  besides  Canning's  own  partisans  and 
favorites,  there  are  Brougham,  Denman,  Williams,  &c,,  as  Whigs 
to  be  provided  for  before  I  cun  be  thought  of.  I  shall  have 
interest  and  excitement  enough  in  seeing  whether  my  silk  gown 
makes  me  look  taller  in  London.  On  the  circuit  it  will  rather 
degrade  me,  as  I  have  been  there  the  unquestioned  leader  in 


Brook»'B,  Monday,  five  o'clock. 

They  say  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  is  returned,  and  that  Lord 
Lansilowne  and  the  Whigs  certainly  come  in ;  but  I  have  not , 
heard  particulars  from  any  authentic  source.     I  believe  that  the 
arrangement  is  mode.    I  rejoice  in  this  exceedingly. 

Plunket  has  resigned  the  Rolls,  because  the  bar  exclaimed 
against  the  appointment.     Adieu ! 


Temple,  Wednesday,  April  25, 1827. 

Dear  George: — I  can  tell  you  nothing  more  about  Lord 
Lansdowne's  negotiation.  Brougham  said  to  me  this  morning, 
*  I  shall  hate  the  woifl  negotiation  for  the  rest  of  my  life.  I 
could  have  got  better  terms  for  them  in  half  an  hour  than  they 
have  been  haggling  about  so  long.*  The  probability  is  that  he 
will  come  in,  but  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  the  treaty  were  to 
break  off  upon  some  such  foolish  punctilio  as  who  shall  be  leader 
of  the  House  of  Lords. 

In  the  meantime  you  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  at  all  events 
Scarlett  is  Attorney-General,  with  the  approbation  of  Lord  Fitz- 
william  and  all  his  friends.  A  letter  was  received  from  Lord 
Fitzwilliam  this  morning,  advising  him  to  accept  the  offer,  and 
saying  that  he  may  rely  upon  a  good  reception  at  Peterborough.  He 
immediately  went  to  Canning  to  announce  his  acceptance  of  the 
office.    Canning  received  the  news  with  great  joy,  and  no  doubt 


466 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1827. 


it  is  a  matter  of  some  importance  to  him,  independently  of  the 
^[ratification  ho  may  enjoy  from  their  private  friendship. 

If  Lord  Fitzwilliam  had  withheld  his  consent,  Scarlett  would 
have  been  placed  in  a  very  embarrassing  and  mortifying  situa- 
tion. Ho  was  strongly  urged  by  his  Whig  friends  to  accept, 
whatever  Lord  Fitzwilliam  might  think  of  it;  but  these  very 
persons  might  afterwards  have  blumed  him,  and,  if  Canning's 
Grovernment  should  be  short-lived,  the  Whigs  might  have  said 
he  had  deserted  them.  Unless  he  was  to  be  returned  uguin  for 
Peterborough,  I  should  have  advised  him  to  decline  the  offer. 
But  now  it  is  every  way  safe  and  auspicious.  Besides  his  con- 
sequence with  Canning  is  much  greater  as  representing  the 
Fitzwilliam  interest.  He  is  much  pleased  himself,  and  the 
ladies  of  the  family  (to  whom  I  first  communicated  the  intelli- 
gence) are  still  more  delighted. 

The  splendor  of  the  Great  Seal  is  enough  to  blind  one  to  all 
the  inconveniences  and  annoyances  which  it  would  bring  along 
with  it  to  a  man  not  reared  in  the  Court  of  Chancery.  But 
there  is  no  other  office  so  desirable  for  Scarlett  as  that  which  he 
has  obtained.  He  had  made  up  his  mind  to  refuse  tiie  Rolls. 
His  appointment  will  give  great  satisfaction.  From  his  profes- 
sional eminence  and  honorable  character  and  career,  there  has 
been  a  general  regret  that  men  so  much  junior,  and  so  much 
inferior  to  him,  should  be  put  over  his  head. 

We  had  a  call  from  *  Lady  Copley '  yesterday  at  the  very  hour 
when  she  was  in  the  act  of  being  transformed  into '  Lady  Lynd- 
hurst.'*  I  look  upon  a  silk  gown  as  a  matter  of  course,  1.  from 
my  station  in  the  profession ;  2.  from  Copley's  regard  for  me ; 
3.  from  his  friendship  for  Scarlett ;  4.  from  the  interest  of  the 
Attorney-General.     In  trnth  the  first  reason  is  quite  sufficient. 


Court  of  King's  Bench,  Friday,  (May  4  or  11.) 

...  I  wrote  a  few  lines  to  Copley  (proformd)  about  the  time 
when  the  seals  were  delivered  to  him.    I  heard  nothing  till  yes- 


*  Sir  J.  Copley,  Master  of  the  Bolls,  succeeded  Lord  Eldon  as  Lord  Chan- 
cellor.—Eo. 


1827.]     SCARLETT  RI>-ELEOT£D  FOR  PETERBOROUGH.  467 

terday,  when  I  happened  to  be  in  the  House  of  Lords.  He  came 
tb  the  bar  and,  beckoning  to  me,  said '  he  had  not  sent  any  answer 
to  my  letter,  as  he  wished  to  answer  it  in  j)crson,  and  tliat  I 
should  probably  hear  from  him  in  two  or  three  days,  but  that 
this  was  a  confidential  i^mmunication.'  He  was  exceedingly 
gracious,  and  meant  this  us  an  announcement  that  I  was  to  have 
my  patent  forthwith.  I  undei><tund  that  there  are  a  number  of 
blank  patents  in  the  Crown  Office.  A  great  difficulty  now  arises 
with  regard  to  Brougham.  The  King  having  I'onseuteil  to  his 
having  a  silk  gown,  he  declares  that  he  will  not  accept  it,  and 
that  he  shall  consider  himself  ill-used  by  Government  if  any  are 
made  upon  the  Northern  circuit.  He  pretends  to  say  that  his 
motives  for  supporting  the  new  Administration  would  be  liable 
to  suspicion  if  he  were  to  accept  anything  that  could  be  construed 
into  a  favor.  What  his  real  motive  or  intention  is  God  only 
knows.  He  talks  upon  the  subject  like  an  insane  person.  Cop- 
ley likewise  spoke  to  him  in  the  House  of  Lords  yesterday,  and 
he  announoe<l  his  resolution  neither  to  become  King's  counsel 
nor  to  tuke  a  patent  of  pi*ece<leucc,  but  he  agreed  to  have  a  con- 
ference with  Copley  to  discuss  the  nnitter.  Brougham  seems  to 
think  that  Ctuining  entirely  depends  \\\M)n  him,  and  that  he  may 
play  what  fantastic  tricks  he  pleases.  I  offered  to  waive  my 
seniority,  and,  as  far  as  I  was  concerneil,  that  he  should  march 
in  at  the  head  of  the  batch.  He  declared  that  he  would  not 
accept  of  a  patent  to  have  pre-audience  of  the  Attorney-General. 
This  embarras  may  cause  some  delay,  but  I  have  little  doubt 
that  I  shall  be  called  within  the  bar  in  the  course  of  next  week. 
Scarlett  has  been  re-elected  for  Peterborough.  His  appoint- 
ment as  Attorney-General  has  given  great  satisfaction.  Even 
Lord  Eldon  has  said  that  the  Crown  is  now  most  fiftly  repre- 
sented. I  saw  the  old  gentleman  yesterday,  shorn  of  his 
honors.  He  looked  dejected  and  melancholy.  I  rather  relented, 
and  I  did  not  feel  the  pleasure  at  his  fall  which  I  had  antici- 
pated. 


VOL.  I. 


20 


mm 


468 


urs  or  LORD  oampbbll. 


[1827. 


Cockpit,  Whitehall,  June  2, 1827. 

Dear  George  : — Hero  I  am  waiting  for  an  appeal  from  Ste. 
Lucie  coming  on. 

The  three  Chancery  men  have  been  sworn  in  King's  counael. 
Brougham  has  his  patent  of  precedence  in  his  pocket,  but, 
acting  in  the  same  strange  unaccountable  manner  lie  hus  done, 
he  keeps  it  in  his  pocket  and  still  acts  without  the  bar,  in  h'ui 
stuff  gown.  He  now  says  he  wants  to  see  whether  anything 
can  be  done  for  Denman,  and  declares  hopes  aro  still  entertained 
that  the  King  may  be  softened.  Our  patents  are  said  to  bo  in 
the  Crown  Office,  but  I  am  well  informed  that  nothing  will  be 
done  till  term  comes  round  again.  The  delay  is  quite  immaterial 
to  me.  I  am  in  the  state  of  one  morally  sure  of  good  fuituue 
arriving.  Therefore  the  sum  of  my  enjoyment  may  be  increased 
by  its  being  deferred. 

Plunket  is  sitting  at  the  table  now.  He  goes  by  the  name  of 
*  the  lord  in  waiting.'  He  is  to  be  Chancellor  of  Ireland  when 
the  King  will  consent.  His  present  situation  is  rather  ludicrous. 
He  was  a  fool  to  give  up  the  Rolls.  Leach,  the  present  Master 
of  the  Rolls,  is  sitting  opposite  to  him.  He  is  in  great  ho{)es 
of  being  made  a  peer.  Next  him  is  my  neighbor  and  old  friend 
Abercromby,  the  new  Judge  Advocate  and  Privy  Councillor. 


Wednesday,  June  13,  half-pant  five. 

Dear  George  : — You  may  give  your  dinner.  I  have  this 
moment  been  sworn  in  as  King's  counsel,  and  received  my  patent 
from  the  Chancellor.  Yours, 

J.  C. 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  June  14, 1827. 
(From  within  the  Bar.) 

Dear  George: —  .  .  .  Here  I  sit  among  his  Majesty's  counsel 
learned  in  the  law !  I  wish  you  had  seen  the  swearing  in 
yesterday.  We  were  in  the  Chancellor's  private  room  in  the 
House  of  Lords.  They  made  us  kneel  down  and  swear  that  we 
did  not  believe  in  the  damnable  doctrine  of  Transubstantiation. 


1827.] 


CONTEMPLATRD  MINIRTERIAL  CHANOE8. 


460 


I  could  hardly  prpm'i'vi'  the  gravity  becoming  Huch  a  aoletun 
ceremony.  There  wum  a  general  Inugh  when,  on  reading  poor 
TwimV  patent,  it  tiirntHl  out  that  he  woa  expremly  told  by  the 
King  that  he  wum  to  have  no  wngen,  whcrcus  our  Uoyal  Master 
allows  the  rent  of  uh  X40  a  year.  This  cxn-ption  in  TwitwV 
patent  is  to  pnm'rve  hirt  acceptance  of  the  office  from  vacating 
his  seat  in  Parliament. 

What  do  you  think  of  the  loss  of  the  Corn  Rill,  and  the  coal- 
ition between  the  ultra-Tories  ond  the  ultra- Whigs,  the  extreme 
right  and  the  extreme  left?  Wo  ore  secure  till  al)out  next 
Easter,  but  things  arc  not  on  a  very  satisfactory  footing.  The 
apiiointment  of  Lord  Goderich  to  lead  in  the  House  of  Lords 
was  a  great  mistake.  He  has  performed  very  badly  and  he  has 
no  authority  whatever.  Had  Lord  Lansdowne  at  once  taken  an 
office,  and  been  made  leader  of  the  Lords,  all  would  have  gone 
on  smootMy.  It  is  well  understood  that,  soon  after  the  pror( 
gation  of  Parliament,  Canning  resumes  his  old  office  of  Foreign 
Secretary,  remaining  Premier  with  all  the  power  and  patronage 
belonging  to  that  ideal  office.  Lord  Dudley  goes  out  altogether. 
Lord  Lansdowne  will  be  put  at  the  head  of  the  Treasury,  and 
Huskisson  probably  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer. 

The  King  has  still  a  strong  hankering  after  the  P'  ^:e  of 
Wellington,  and  he  is  the  formidable  opponent  of  new 
Ministry.  About  a  fortnight  ago,  the  King  again  ofiere..  him 
the- army,  which  he  refused,  and  he  says  he  would  rather  serve 
under  Lord  Grey  than  under  Mr.  Canning. 

Grey's  conduct  is,  I  think,  very  atrocious.  He  is  doing  what 
he  can  to  ruin  a  Government  which  he  knows  would  do  a  great 
deal  for  the  cause  of  liberality,  that  he  may  restore  to  power 
men  who  he  knows  ai*e  ])ledged  and  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
bigotry.  The  Duke  of  Wellington's  conduct  I  applaud,  although 
it  is  to  be  wondered  at  and  lamented  that  so  great  and  able  a 
man  should  not  have  more  liberal  principles. 

The  King's  refusal  to  receive  the  address  of  the  City  of  Lon- 
don gives  some  alarm,  but  the  truth  is  that  he  has  a  strong  dis- 
like to  the  Corporation  of  London  for  their  conduct  in  the 


ilj 


460 


I.irZ  OK   LOIID  CAMPRfrU,!,. 


[1827. 


Queen'H  com,  and  he  haten  the  tmuhli)  of  m-civiiig  them  und 
returning  an  atuwur,  I  ht>nr  tliero  in  to  Ixt  a  leyde  hoou,  when  I 
■hall  havo  tho  honor  of  kiming  the  n>ynl  hund. 

The  Eorl  of  Warwick  or  tho  Kinj?-imiker  (Hroughunru  now 
appellation)  Htill  supimrtd  MiniHterH,  but  how  lon^  he  will  con- 
tinue to  do  HO,  no  one  can  toll.  IIu  greatly  overratcH  hiH  influ- 
ence. 

When  I  showed  Freddy  my  imtcnt  yoHterday,  with  the  Great 
Seal  dangling  from  it,  he  thought  it  was  a  new  toy  and  asked  if 
I  hod  bought  it  for  him. 


Stafford,  ThuriHay,  Augu«t,  1827. 

Dear  George  : —  ...  You  will  be  very  nujoh  afflicted  by 
the  death  of  Mr.  Canning.*  It  w  a  sad  blow,  every  way.  The 
reign  of  intolerance  is  restored.  An  entire  change  of  Ministry 
is  expected.  Copley  told  Scarlett  on  Monday  that  he  thought 
the  King  would  turn  out  tho  Whigs ;  that  he,  Copley,  would 
probably  remain,  as  Lord  Eldon  might  be  contented  with  the 
office  of  President  of  the  Council.  The  only  chance  is  that  the 
King  may  think  he  Mill  have  less  trouble  from  making  Lord 
Lansdowne  Premier  than  if  he  were  to  send  for  Mr.  Peel. 

Scarlett  has  been  herc.f  T  had  the  honor  to  be  opposed  to 
him.  The  cause  was  really  an  undefended  one,  and  I  made  as 
good  a  fight  08  I  ex|)ected.  I  have  been  extremely  lucky  on  the 
circuit,  getting  all  the  verdicts  that  were  to  be  gotten.  Louise 
Scarlett  came  here  with  her  father.  They  intended  to  have 
toured  about  for  some  days,  but  Scarlett  was  forced  to  set  off  for 
London  the  moment  he  had  finished  his  speech.  He  is  very 
much  afTected  by  Canning's  death.  There  was  an  intimate  and 
steady  friendship  between  them.  Scarlett  expects  to  be  turned 
out.  This  he  will  bear  with  an  equal  mind,  but  his  case  is 
rather  a  hard  one.  For  the  honor  of  being  Attorney-General 
a  few  months,  he  has  given  up  the  Northern  circuit,  which  was 


*  He  died  August  6, 1827. 
f  At  the  Stafford  assises.— Ed. 


IH'JT.j 


VACATION   AT   IIADTIMUH. 


401 


worth  XWOO  H  y«ir  to  him.    Still  th«?iv  m  no  rmmn  to  irgroC 
that  he  took  tlu;  ofHcc.     Ho  hod  genu  the  oirouit  long  enough. 

22  Wellington  tiquaro,  Hutingi,  Htptembar  18, 1H27. 

Dkar  GKuiUiK: — Hero  wo  uro  tixe<l  for  tho  vacation.  I  con- 
tew4  1  l<Hik  with  hoiuo  lonf^ing  attrotw  the  water,  hut  thin  Humnier 
we  nuiHt  1)0  Htntionnry.  I  have  had  ^roat  dolifi^ht  in  tthowin^ 
lioo  and  KhhI  the  Hoa,  and  hel|>in){  th(>ni  to  pick  up  |M;hblcfl  and 
HhelJH  on  tho  l)each.  I  enjoy  excee<lin){ly  the  intorniimion  of  the 
wrangling  of  the  Imu*.  Ihit  when  tlie  pro|)cr  iMHUion  returuH,  I 
Hup|H)W!  1  nhall  contentetlly  return  to  thcni.  Now  w  tho  time 
when  it  i8  to  be  determined  whether  I  wiim  only  fit  to  be  a  Hi)ccial 
pleader.  I  look  forwanl  to  the  criniH  with  apprehension,  but 
not  with  dc8|)air.  Fre<lerick  Pollo<'k,  my  great  rival,  ban 
acquiriMl  iininenw!  glory  on  tho  Northern  circuit  by  getting  ahead 
of  Brougham.  Unfortunately  tho  Oxford  circuit  is  very  ol)8oure, 
and  the  public  know  nothing  of  it  or  me. 


Court  of  King'H  Bench,  November  3, 1827. 

Dear  Georoe  : — I  am  going  on  as  well  a»  I  could  reasonably 
ox|)ect.  At  Guildhall  I  had  more  than  Brougham  and  as  much 
as  Pollock.  .  .  .  Alexander's  i)eenigo  was  refused  that  there 
might  not  be  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  yolicntor-General,  by 
Tindal  iK'coming  Chief  Baron.  Ministers  were  afraid  of  the 
o/iAa/TO*  of  Brougham  pressing  to  bo  appointed,  and  the  King 
resisting.  I  do  not  see  on  what  ground  he  could  bo  passed  over. 
He  supports  the  Administration,  he  is  at  the  top  of  the  profes- 
sion, and  there  is  nothing  that  can  bo  o|)cnly  urged  against  his 
character. 

If  Lord  Goderich  *  wore  a  man  of  more  vigor.  Ministers 
would  go  on  very  well.  The  King  cordially  supports  them,  and 
continues  very  hostile  to  Peel  and  the  ultra-Tories.  The  ultra- 
Tory  opposition  is  contemptible,  and  the  discontentetl  Whigs  are 


*  Lord  Ooderich  became  Prime  Minister  on  the  doftth  of  Canning. — Ed. 


46J 


i.irK  or  I.OIU)  cAMi'iiKi.r,. 


[IH'JT. 


notatAll  furniiilubli'.    Hut  I  «luul>t  wry  lutuh  whcthir  CiiMlnifh 
<»n  huld  tliu  livliii  long.  .  .  . 

My  frirnd  ('n|»U>y,  I  tun  norty  to  my,  |M'rf\»rmN  mtluT  iiidifTor- 
•iitly.  II«i  iH  HituI  to  \h*  vi>ry  idle  luid  n>tii<»rMl«-^H.  I  Imvc  linird 
nothing  lutcly  oi'ixNir  lionl  KIdon.  ili>  iiiiiMt  mtlicr  Ih>  tintl  hy 
tliM  tinw  of  iHirtrid^u  Hli<Mitin){,  itiid,  wlicii  tlut  tirtt  day  of  t«riii 
coiiu'H,  h(!  niiiMt  fc*«l  wry  iiicliuu'holy. 


Court  of  1iil\^^'»  Binch,  Novi<mb«r  13,  1H27. 

Deak  Gkouok: —  .  .  .  I  wiwh  I  could  niv  anything;  to  aiiuiM) 
you,  but  w«»  ani  only  talkint;  of  Navnriuo,*  of  which  you  know 
att  much  an  1.  I  wax  rather  prcimrcd  for  u  i>atth>  l»y  iVtcr 
Bcnrlett'H  U'ttcm,  which  rcprcM'uti'd  the  Turkh  itx  ipiitc  olMtinatc 
The  KciH  Ktft'ndi,  houiv  uionthH  a^o,  told  Stnitf(»rd  Canuiii);  that 
tlio  tinicH  for  HCiidlii^  aruUiHHadoi'M  to  the  iSeveu  TowerM  wore  goiiu 
by.    However,  wo  are  rather  uneasy  alwiut  |MM»r  Peter. 

I  am  sorry  to  nay  lijuiy  Hi-arlett  \h  Heriounly  ill.  .  .  .  She  \n  u 
moHt  kiuil-hearteil,  auiiablu  creature,  and  her  lorn  would  Im)  u 
heavy  blow  to  the  whole  family. 

I  continue  to  enjoy  my  rank  nuurh  more  than  I  (>x|N><!te<i. 
The  very  convenient^  of  Hitting  where  I  n«)W  am  irt  to  Ikj  envied. 
InHtcad  of  luung  jostled  and  ellx)we<l  by  Ntutf  gownn  and  Hcrjcants 
from  the  Common  PleaH,  here  I  nit  in  state — at  this  moment  no 
one  within  u  yard  of  me  on  either  side.  When  I  present  myself 
as  the  door  of  the  court  the  usher  says,  '  Make  way.'  A  lane  is 
formed,  I  sail  in,  strike  my  flag  to  the  Chief  Justice,  and  take 
part  in  the  lino  of  battle  as  a  first-rate.  You  will  suppose  me 
as  bad  as  J.  P.,  who  now,  having  been  flfttten  years  a  judge,  has 
unabated  delight  in  being  stannl  at  by  the  little  Ix^ys  when  he  is 
trumpeted  into  the  assize  town,  or  walks  up  the  nave  of  a  cathe- 
dral to  the  sound  of  the  organ.  But  what  I  speak  of  in  my  own 
case  is  solid  comfort. 

The  King,  though  well  affected  to  Ministers,  is  very  trouble- 
some about  appointments.     He  has  more  power  and  influence 

*  The  battle  of  Navarino  was  fought  on  October  20, 1827.— Ed. 


iH'i'.J  IIAltl>   WoliK    AM>   l'«M»|l   I.I  iK.  4(i<l 

than  ooiiMtltiiiioiialty  lif  «>ii){ht  to  hiivo,     \Atv\\  (iiHli>ri«>h  Km  no 
Authority  nml  iit  no  chuvk  u|>on  thu  King. 

NoY»mh«r  23,  l«27 

Nothing  for  nio  but  himl  work.  No  luck.  Yuttt'nlny  I  iu« 
tended  in  pmying  judgmunt  to  hnw  fired  uflfagainHt  'John  Bull.* 
I  WM  with  H«iirlL>tt,  und  hud  for  tho  Hi'mI  tiniu  in  my  lifu  written 
n  RiMHH^h,  Mtncltiding  with  u  (|uotAtion  from  8huk(>M|H>ttru.  A« 
Hoarlott  proceeded,  it  wiu  likely  to  come  in  an  nicely  oit  coidd  bo, 
and  I  had  (V»n>cd  a  few  cxtcm|M)ru  Bentonciw  to  iutroduco  it — 
when  Mr.  Attorney  chose  to  oxtingniith  mo  by  concluding  in  a 
manner  that  rendered  it  im|K)Mible  to  say  a  word  except  that '  I 
oould  add  nothing  to  what  had  l)een  urged  by  my  learned  letulcr.' 

Wo  are  all  (luite  well  at  No.  0.  Mary  and  I  are  Htudying 
nlgobru  together,  and  arc  making  great  progrcm  in  equations. 
Loo  hoM  begun  to  learn  French  regularly  under  a  Madame 
Graille,  just  imported  from  Paris. 


I  :^ 


i' 


!l 


464 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1828. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Beobmber,  1827— June,  1830. 

Besignation  of  Lord  Goderich — The  Duke  of  Wellington's  Administration — 
Scarlett  ceases  to  be  Attoruey-Qoneral — Real  Property  Commission — 
Speaker  Manners  Sutton — Law  of  Prescription — Sits  for  his  Portrait — 
Dinner  at  the  Duke  of  Gloucester's — Dinner  at  Mr,  Secretary  Peel's — 
Catholic  Emancipation — Death  of  Lady  Scarlett — Report  of  the  Real  Prop- 
erty Commission — Ofifor  of  a  Puisne  Judgeship — Illness  of  King  George 
IV. — Holland  House — Duchess  of  Gloucester — Death  of  George  IV. 

Brooks's,  Saturday,  December  27, 1827,  half-past  five, 

Dear  George  : — We  are  all  in  a  bustle  ^pre.  They  say  Lord 
Goderich  has  certainly  re-signed. *  I  believe  there  is  no  doubt  of 
the  fact.  Nobody  knows  anything  of  the  consequences.  Lord 
Goderich  felt  himself  quite  incompetent.  There  has  not  been 
any  quarrel  between  him  and  the  King,  or  between  him  and  his 
colleagues.  Some  pretend  that  Lord  Lansdowne  must  now  be 
Premier,  and  he  certainly  must,  or  resign,  for  he  could  not  remain 
in  with  any  dignity  or  usefulness  under  another  chief.  Othei's 
pretend  that  the  Duke  of  AVellington  will  be  sent  for,  and  that 
the  Old  Tories  will  be  restored.  My  private  opinion  is  that  the 
King  will  not  consent  to  Peel  and  Lord  Eldon  coming  back,  and 
that  he  would  rather  submit  to  a  Whig  being  at  the  head. 

Every  frank  in  the  room  is  exhausted  by  similar  despatches. 
Perhaps  you  may  think  this  worth  1«.  2Jd. 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  January  21, 1828. 

Dear  George  : — As  yet  I  know  nothing,  but  I  am  afraid  you 
may  think  I  ought  not  to  be  longer  silent.  The  present  state  of 
affairs  is  very  distressing,  and  the  result,  whatever  it  may  be, 
must  be  deplored.    This  much  is  certain — that  the  Whigs  ai-e  all 


*He  did  not  finally  resign  till  January  7, 1828.— Ed. 


1828.] 


KOAHLKTTH   PROSPKt  TS. 


4G5 


out,  and  that  Canning's  friends  remain  in.*  This  is  exactly  the 
combination  of  uircumstances  which  I  dreaded  and  deprecated. 
A  pure  Protestant  and  ultra-Tory  administration  I  should  have 
been  very  well  pleased  to  see.  This  would  have  led  to  a  combi- 
nation among  all  the  Liberals,  who  would  ere  long  have  been 
again  in  office,  with  power  to  carry  their  measures  into  effect. 

Nothing  as  yet  is  decided  with  respect  to  Scarlett.  I  rather 
conjecture  that  he  will  have  the  option  of  remaining  in  if  he  likes, 
although  this  be  mere  conjecture,  and  I  think  Wetherell  will 
be  very  ill  used  if  he  is  not  restored.  If  the  option  is  given,  I 
know  not  how  it  will  be  exercised.  He  cannot  stay  without  a 
rupture  with  Lord  Fitzwilliam  and  the  whole  of  the  Whig  party. 
He  will  go  sine  ape  redeimdi,  and  with  the  certainty  of  seeing 
young  and  obscure  men  put  over  his  head.  Huskisson  is  a  great 
friend  of  his,  and  will  try  to  negotiate  his  stay.  Stanley  has 
resigned  the  situation  of  Huskisson's  under-secrotary,  and  there 
will  not  be  a  Whig  to  give  any  countenance  to  the  defection.  All 
that  could  be  said  is  that  Scarlett  was  not  put  in  by  Lansdowne 
and  the  Whigs,  but  by  Canning,  and  that  he  is  therefore  justi- 
fied in  acting  with  Canning's  friends.  He  says,  I  believe  sincerely, 
that  he  would  be  well  pleased  to  hear  that  he  was  dismissed.  I 
saw  Wetherell  on  Saturday  evening.  He  seemed  very  much 
depressed,  and  had  not  received  any  communication.  His  friend 
Lord  Eldon  certainly  does  not  come  into  office  any  more.  Hus- 
kisson refused  to  sit  in  the  Cabinet  with  him.  Huskisson  has 
obtained  a  pledge  that  Canning's  policy,  foreign  and  domestic, 
will  be  persevered  in.  At  Brooks's  Huskisson  is  scurrilously 
abused  for  separating  from  the  Whigs.  I  had  a  call  from  Copley 
on  Saturday  evening,  but  there  is  no  consequence  belonging  to  it. 
When  the  servant  announced  to  me  that  Lord  Lyndhurst  was  in 
the  hall,  and  wished  to  see  me  privately,  I  thought  he  had  come 
to  me  about  Scarlett,  but  it  was  merely  to  see  whether  I  could 


*  On  the  resignation  of  Lord  Qoderich  the  Duke  of  Wellington  formed  a 
new  Administration.  Lord  Dudley,  Mr.  Huskisson,  Mr.  Grant  and  Lord 
Palmerston  were  among  the  friends  of  Canning  who  'remained  in,'  but  they 
resigned  the  following  May. — Ed. 


466 


LIFE  OF  LORD  CAJIPBFJ.L. 


[1828. 


aasiHt  him  in  negotiating  the  resignation  of  an  old  judge.  I  took 
him  into  the  library,  and  had  some  talk  with  him  in  the  tone  of 
former  confidence.  He  said  he  thnight  the  new  Government 
would  be  very  satisfactory  to  the  public,  and  would  be  very  strong 
in  both  Houses.  He  intimated  an  opinion  that  Brougham  had 
done  a  great  deal  of  mischief.  Indeed  my  private  opinion  is  that 
Copley's  dread  of  Brougham  led  mainly  to  breaking  up  the  Gov- 
ernment. If  Lord  Holland  had  come  in  with  Brougham  in  his 
train,  Copley  would  haw  been  in  the  hands  of  the  Whigs,  and 
would  have  held  the  Great  Seal  by  an  insecure  tenure. 

At  the  very  instant  wheji  I  write  to  you,  Scarlett  has  receivetl 
a  note  from  the  Chancellor  wishing  to  see  him  immediately,  and 
he  is  gone.  He  says  he  shall  ask  a  day  or  two  to  deliberate. 
From  what  Huskisson  said  I  believed  the  offer  would  be  made. 


Court  of  King's  Bench,  January  26, 1828. 

.  .  .  Scarlett  is  out,  or  as  good  as  out,  and  I  am  glad  of  it. 
He  could  not  have  remained  in  with  credit.  It  is  mortifying, 
but  does  not  amount  to  a  calamity.  We  may,  and  I  hope  shall, 
still  be  respectable  and  happy.  I  have  been  clear  for  the 
resignation,  and  have  regretted  that  it  has  been  so  long  delayed. 
Copley  requested  on  Wednesday  when  we  were  at  his  levC'e,  that 
at  all  events  Scarlett  would  hold  the  office  for  a  few  days.  As 
soon  as  he  leaves  the  court  to-day,  he  is  going  to  the  Chancellor 
to  bring  the  matter  to  a  conclusion.  Brougham  advised  him  to 
stay — Denman  to  go — Lord  Lansdowne  said  that  with  a  view 
to  a  judicial  office  he  might  stay — Lord  Holland  rather  thought 
that  he  might  not.  But  wliat  is  strongest  is  that  Lord  Milton 
is  furious  against  the  present  Government,  and  declares  that  no 
one  with  any  particle  of  Whig  principles  can  support  it,  and 
therefore  that,  if  his  continuance  in  office  would  be  an  adhesion 
to  the  Government,  he  should  immediately  retire. 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  February  14, 1828. 

...  I  am  more  and  more  pleased  that  Scarlett  is  out.  I  do 
not  see  how  Huskisson  and  Dudley  can  continue  in.    Poor 


1828.] 


BEAL  PROPERTY  COMMIS8ION. 


467 


Husky  is  in  a  very  bad  way.  There  was  mudi  mutual  courtesy 
between  Scarlett  and  the  Duke  when  they  met  and  parted.  The 
Duke  said  the  King  was  particularly  sorry  to  lose  his  services, 
and  the  King  has  scut  him  a  private  message  to  the  same  effect. 
Were  there  now  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  Chief  Justice  of  the 
King's  Bench,  I  believe  it  would  be  offered  to  him,  but  things 
may  take  a  new  aspect  every  moment. 

Court  of  King's  Bench.  May  6, 1828. 

Dear  George  : —  ...  Mary  and  I  dined  with  the  Duke 
and  Duchess  of  Gloucester  on  Wednesday,  with  a  very  splendid 
party. 

The  distinction  which  has  most  flattered  me  of  late  was  having 
a  case  sent  for  my  opinion  by  the  Court  of  Session  in  Scotland. 
I  have  often  answered  cases  for  the  parties  to  be  used  in  the 
Court  of  Session,  but  this  was  the  first  referred  to  me  by  the 
Court  ex  mero  viotu.  This  feeling  shows  how  true  a  S<!otchman 
I  am,  and  how  unsophisticated  I  continue,  though  living  so  long 
in  a  foreign  country. 

I  am  likely  to  have  a  mark  of  confidence  here  which  perhaps 
you  will  set  little  value  upon.  You  have  heard  of  a  Commission 
to  be  appointed  for  the  reformation  of  the  Law  of  Real  Property 
in  En{jland.  I  am  asked  to  belong  to  it.  Being  in  the  House 
of  Lords  about  three  weeks  ago,  the  Chancellor  wrote  me  a  note 
to  inquire  if  I  had  seen  Lord  Tcnterden,  and  if  he  had  made  any 
communication  to  me.  He  had  not  then,  but  next  day  he  took 
me  into  his  private  room  at  Guildhall,  and  said  he  was  desired 
by  Mr.  Peel  to  propose  to  me  to  become  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mission ;  that  they  were  very  anxious  for  my  services,  and  the 
only  doubt  was  whether  my  business  would  leave  me  sufficient 
time  to  attend  to  it.  Lord  Tenterden  advised  me  to  take  a  day 
to  consider.  Scarlett  and  others  to  whom  I  mentioned  the  mat- 
ter strongly  urged  me  to  accept,  and  I  next  day  intimated  my 
acceptance  accordingly.  On  the  first  day  of  term  the  Chancellor, 
at  his  lev6e,  expressed  his  satisfaction.  But  from  that  day  to 
this  I  have  not  heard  a  word  more  upon  the  subject.     I  believe 


468 


LITB  OF  LORD  CAMPBELL. 


[1828. 


that  great  difficulties  have  occurred  in  the  nonuiiution  of  the 
other  oommiiisioncrs.  I  Hhould  be  much  ploaHc><l  if  I  wcr<> 
nominated,  and  the  others  were  such  ns  it  would  be  crcditabh' 
to  co-operate  with.  I  make  no  doubt  that  my  nume  wns  fir^t 
mentioned  by  Copley.  It  ia  pleasant  that  he  Hhould  think  of 
me  on  such  an  o<*otLsion,  and  that  no  veto  should  l)e  put  upon  hJH 
recommendation.  In  the  course  of  the  discussions  I  should 
gain  ft  great  deal  of  information,  which  would  bo  of  great  value 
to  me  for  the  rest  of  my  professional  life.  I  say  nothing  of 
remuneration,  for  I  told  Lord  Tenterden  with  great  sincerity, 
and  desired  him  to  say  to  Pet^l,  that  I  would  rather  that  my 
services  were  gratuitous.  I  think  a  great  deal  may  Imj  safely  done 
to  improve  the  law,  and  much  credit  may  be  acquired  by  those 
engaged  in  the  undertaking. 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  May  14, 1828. 

Dear  George  : —  .  .  .  Lady  Scarlett  is  again  rather  better, 
and  hopes  of  her  recovery  revive.  I  am  now  to  tell  you  a  pro- 
found secret.  Louise  Scarlett  is  going  to  be  married — to  a  very 
excellent  fellow,  Currey,  formerly  an  officer,  now  Ixjlonging  to 
the  establishment  of  the  Duke  of  Gloucester.  He  is  not  very  rich, 
but  is  one  of  the  most  agreeable,  honorable,  and  gentlemanly 
men  I  have  ever  been  acquainted  with.  The  Duchess  was 
informed  of  the  circumstance  yesterday,  and  immediately  with 
her  own  hand  wrote  her  a  very  long,  kind  and  beautiful  letter, 
praising  Currey  and  her,  and  expressing  her  satisfaction  at  the 
prospect  of  having  her  for  a  neighbor  in  the  country. 

I  have  heard  not  a  word  more  about  the  Commission,  except 
an  accidental  hint  this  morning.  Tindal  took  me  into  the  library 
of  the  House  of  Lords  to  consult  me  about  the  construction  of 
an  Act  of  Parliament.  There  to  our  surprise  we  found  the 
Lord  Chancellor.  Chancellor. — 'How  is  the  Commission  going 
on  ? '  Campbell. — *  I  have  heard  nothing  of  it  these  three  weeks. 
I  suppose  it  has  gone  to  sleep.'  Chancellor. — *  No,  no !  Don't 
you  think  Camipbell  a  very  fit  man  to  put  at  the  head  of  it  ? ' 
Tindal. — *  Oh !  very  fit.     The  appointment  would  give  universal 


1828.] 


DBBATB  ON  CATHOLIC  QUESTION. 


469 


satiBfuction.'  ThiM  all  in  a  Hemi-quiKzing  tone.  There  uro  great 
difficulties  in  Hclccting  the  conveyoncerH  who  arc  to  be  appointed. 

I  still  rcliHh  the  notion  of  becoming  a  Solon.  I  think  Lord 
Tcnderden  has  liecn  more  civil  to  me  ever  since  he  delivered 
Peel's  message. 

You  will  be  glad  of  the  n-Hult  of  the  dclmtc  on  tlie  Catholic 
question,  although  it  will  {>r(Miu(!e  no  immediate  good  effects. 
On  Saturday  I  was  oim  of  four  lienchers  of  liincoln's  Inn  who 
dineil  there  M'ith  the  Speaker,  u  brother  iMiucher.*  I  asked  him 
if  he  had  prepared  a  siH'ctch  to  usher  in  his  vote,  should  the 
House  be  equally  divided.  He  said  that  he  had,  and  he  was  so 
good-humore<l  as  to  tell  us  what  he  meant  to  say.  It  seems  that 
qwi  Speaker  he  would  have  Ixten  at  liberty  to  vote  against  the 
question,  according  to  his  private;  sentiments.  You  know  that 
there  ai-e  some  occasions  when  the  Speaker  is  l)ound  to  vote  in  a 
particular  way,  whatever  may  Imj  his  own  sentiments,  as  for 
inquiry  against  a  tax,  &c.  Sutton  says,  however,  that  Abbott, 
the  late  Speaker,  is  thought  to  have  been  wrong  in  supposing 
that  he  was  bound  to  vote  for  the  im])eachment  of  Lord  Melville. 

I  had  the  promise  of  admission  at  all  times  under  the  gallery 
by  sending  in  my  name  to  the  Speaker. 

I  ought  to  have  been  at  Lincoln's  Inn  chapel  last  Saturday, 
and  I  should  have  been  introduced  to  Walter  Scott,  and  had  the 
honor  of  showing  him  our  Inn.  ' 


Court  of  King's  Bench,  May  22, 1828. 

Dear  Geokge  : — On  Saturday  last  I  received  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Peel,  of  which  I  give  you  a  copy.f    I  could  only  express 

*  Manners  Sutton. 

t  'Whitehall,  May  17, 1828. 

'SiE : — His  Majesty  has  been  graciously  pleased  to  direct  the  necessary  steps 
to  be  taken  for  the  appointment  of  a  Commission  to  inquire  into  the  state  of 
the  law  regarding  the  transfer  of  real  property. 

'  Having  conversed  with  the  Lord  Chancellor  on  the  subject  of  the  Commis- 
sion, I  beg  leave  to  express  a  wish  on  his  part  and  on  my  own,  that  you  would 
allow  me  to  propose  your  name  to  his  Majesty  as  the  first  in  the  Commission. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

'RoBBBT  Peel.' 


470 


I<IFE  OF   I.Oni>  CAMPIlKIJi. 


[1828. 


my  gratification  nt  this  distinguishcil  .nark  of  confidence,  and 
my  readinc88  to  contribute  n:y  l)c«t  exertions  to  further  the 
objects  of  the  Commission. 

My  puisne  judges  are  very  much  to  my  mind,  ond  I  moke  no 
doubt  we  shall  go  on  very  agreeably.  I  give  my  first  Cabinet 
dinner  on  Saturday. 

Yesterday  I  had  a  conference  with  the  Chancellor  respecting 
the  terms  of  the  Commission.  We  are  to  inquire  *  into  the  law 
of  England  respecting  Real  Property  and  the  various  interests 
therein,  and  the  methotls  and  forms  of  alienating,  conveying,  and 
transferring  the  same,  and  of  assuring  the  titles  thereto,*  and  to 
suggest  such  alterations  and  improvements  as  we  shall  think  fit. 

It  is  impossible  to  deny  that  this  is  a  considerable  distinction. 
I  am  the  only  Conmion  lawyer  selected,  and  I  am  put  at  the 
head  of  a  Commission  which  excites  a  good  deal  of  interest  in 
Parliament  and  with  the  public. 

I  must  bid  adieu  for  some  time  to  all  thoughts  of  Parliament. 
There  has  been  nothing  said  or  hinted  to  me  on  the  subject,  but 
there  has  been  a  sort  of  understanding  that  no  M.  P.  should  be 
appointed,  and  the  Commission  must  fully  occupy  every  moment 
of  leisure  I  can  snatch  from  my  business  at  the  bar.  What  I 
should  like  is  to  come  into  the  House  to  carry  through  such  Bills 
for  the  improvement  of  the  law  as  we  may  recommend.  But  this 
is  an  idle  dfeam.     Life  is  rapidly  wearing  away. 


.   Monday,  June  9, 1828. 

.  .  .  We  have  at  last  got  our  commission  under  the  Great 
Seal,  and  we  are  to  open  it  to-day  at  four  o'clock  Avith  all  due 
solemnity.  *  Successful  ambition '  brings  many  pangs  and  morti- 
fications along  with  it.  I  am  to  be  tied  by  the  leg  during  the 
whole  of  the  long  vacation.  The  Commissioners  have  resolved 
to  remain  in  London  August,  September  and  October,  and  to 
meet  daily.  Thus,  even  if  Lady  Scarlett's  health  would  have 
allowed  us  to  make  out  our  visit  to  you,  it  has  now  become  im- 
possible.    This  is  a  great  disappointment  to  us  all. 


1H2«.] 


REAL  PROPERTY  COMMISSION. 


471 


[Thus  he  8|)eak8  in  the  Autobiography  of  this  appointment. 
—Ed.]  : 

...  I  particularly  rejoiced  at  the  opportunity  I  should  have 
of  being  trained  in  the  luw  of  Real  Proiwrty,  in  which,  hitherto, 
I  had  been  rather  deficient ;  for  I  had  never  studied  with  a  con- 
veyancer, and  the  great  bulk  of  the  cases  which  I  had  had  to 
argue  were  of  a  commercial  nature,  and  respected  personal  rights 
and  obligations  only.  I  had  associated  with  me  the  four  men 
the  most  skilled  in  the  i)rofession  as  Real  Property  lawyers — 
Brodie,  Hodgson,  Tinney,  and  Duckworth ;  and  three  othere 
■were  adtle<l,  Duval,  Tyrrell,  and  Sanders.  I  set  to  work  sys- 
tematically (ib  ovo,  as  if  I  had  never  read  the  second  volume  of 
Blackstonc,  or  Littleton,  or  his  commentator,  and  worked  with 
such  assiduity  that,  in  dealing  with  tenures,  I  did  not  require 
the  caution  necessary  to  my  fame  >vhen  dealing  with  Latin 
♦juantities,  and  I  could  speak  with  boldness  and  freedom  before 
lawyers,  whom  we  examined,  of  the  efficacy  of  a  fine,  and  the 
operation  of  a  recovery,  and  the  peculiar  magic  by  which  they 
respectively  barred  estates  tail.  I  now  got  that  insight  into  the 
law  of  Real  Property  which  afterwards  enabled  me  to  deliver 
my  argument  in  the  Scarlxirout-li  c;ise. 

Although  we  all  joined  in  our  public  discussions,  one  particular 
subject  was  sjiecially  allotted  to  each  commissioner,  on  which  he 
was  to  write  in  our  Report  to  his  Majesty,  and  to  draw  proposi- 
tions as  to  the  foundation  of  legislative  enactment.  I  had  the 
important  subject  of  *  Prescription  and  Statutes  of  Limitation.' 
The  statute  3  and  4  Wm.  IV.  c  27  is  the  result  of  my  labor. 
I  read  every  case  to  be  found  connected  with  the  subject  in  our 
Reports,  from  the  Year  Books  downwards,  and  I  inquired  how 
it  had  been  treated  in  the  Roman  Civil  Law,  by  the  modern 
continental  nations,  and  by  the  different  States  forming  the 
American  Union.  Our  own  law  of  prescription  I  found  the  most 
barbarous  and  anomalous  that  ever  existed  in  the  world — a  man 
with  a  bad  title  being,  under  certain  circumstances,  able  to  defraud 
the  true  owner  by  an  adverse  possession  of  five  years,  and  under 


472 


UFB  or  LORD  OAllPfiKLL. 


[1828. 


other  oiroumstancoB,  there  Iwing  no  aoeurity  in  a  bma  fide  poff- 
Hession  of  oeuturicH,  ibrtifteil  by  a  lung  tmin  of  desoentM,  pur- 
chases and  marriagOHHcttlcmcnts.  I  proiiosed  the  general  rulo 
that  a  possession  as  owner  for  twenty  years  shall  be  conolusivo 
evidence  of  ownership,  which  wan  established  by  the  enactment 
that  every  claimant  must  piirsue  his  legal  remedy  within  twenty 
years  from  the  time  when  his  title  ur  right  of  entry  accrued. 

We  presented  our  first  Ue|M)rt  to  his  Majesty  on  the  10th  of 
March  1829.  I  wrote  the  '  Introduction/  w  well  as  the  head 
*  Prescription,'  the  rest  being  written  with  great  ability  by  Tiii- 
uey,  Hodgson  and  BrtMlie.  8ir  Robert  Peel,  soon  after,  told  me 
that  he  had  carefully  {)eruHed  the  RciH)rt ;  that  it  was  m)  framed 
that  he  thought  he  perfectly  undcratooil  it,  and  that  he  was 
desirous  the  suggestions  it  contained  rihould  be  curried  into 
effect.  It  was  likewise  very  much  approved  of  by  the  profes- 
sion ;  and  on  points  of  Real  Proi)erty  law  it  is  now  cited  in 
Westminster  Hall  with  text-books  of  authority.  The  Commis- 
sion continued  three  years,  and  we  publiHhed  several  other 
reports,  of  which  I  had  only  the  general  suiierintendcncc,  but 
which  were  equally  well  received,  and  it  has  been  univci'Hally 
admitted  that  we  faithfully  discharged  our  public  duty.  The 
Common  Ldiw  Commissioners,  consisting  of  Parke,  Bosiuiquet, 
Patteson,  Aldersou  (afterwards  made  judges),  and  Sergeant 
Stephen,  gained  equal  credit. 

July  3, 1828. 

Deab  George  : —  .  .  .  What  with  the  Commission  and  my 
private  practice  I  have  been  working  very  hard.  I  have  not 
been  on  horseback  for  a  fortnight.  The  Commissioners  meet 
thrice  a  week  between  four  and  six.  On  those  days  I  have  no 
dinner,  except  some  sandwiches  and  a  glass  of  wine  sent  for  me 
to  the  Temple.  I  am  not  at  all  in  good  spirits  about  the  Com- 
mission. We  go  on  very  indifferently.  We  do  not  quarrel  so 
as  to  obstruct  our  progress ;  on  the  contrary,  we  are  very  cordial, 
and  very  much  agree  in  our  views.  But  I  am  sadly  afraid  we 
shall  be  found  wanting  in  industry  and  energy.     We  are  all 


1828.] 


•m  FOR  BU  PORTRAIT. 


473 


much  occupied  with  private  bunincw,  aiul  I  fear  not  prepared  to 
make  thn  HacrlHces  und  cxortioiiH  nucvtwury  for  the  diitchargo  of 
our  public  duty.  Unlow  we  get  on  much  better  wlien  tlie  long 
vacation  comeH,  I  shall  dct)|)air. 

I  am  rather  proH|)erouH  in  King*H  Bench.  I  have  juMt  obtained 
a  venlict  that  will  make  nonie  iioino  in  the  medical  world.  The 
action  was  by  the  College  of  I'liyxicianK  againHt  a  Dr.  HarriHon, 
an  Edinburgh  graduate,  for  priu'tirin^  an  a  phyuician  without 
being  admitted  as  v  licentiate.  There  waM  nothing  in  any  of  the 
grounds  of  defence  supplied  me  by  my  client ;  but  I  floored  the 
Collie,  notwithstanding  a  furious  summing  up  by  Lord  Tenter- 
den  in  their  favor. 


Temple,  September  11, 1828. 

Dear  George  : — Do  not  think  that  I  forget  you.  I  have 
been  devoting  two  hours  a  day  to  you — in  sitting  for  my  |)or- 
trait."'  I  did  not  know  the  task  would  be  so  disagreeable,  or  I 
fear  I  should  not  have  come  under  the  promise.  But  I  must 
now  go  on.  What  costume  do  you  prefer  ?  I  pro|)osed  my  gala 
dress  as  King's  counsel.  Mary  forbade  the  wig,  or  at  least  would 
only  have  it  by  my  side  on  a  pole.  Still  I  thought  you  might 
like  to  see  the  tokens  of  my  '  successful  ambition,'  and  the  full- 
bottom  appears  on  the  head.  But  there  is  plenty  of  time  to  have 
it  altered  according  to  your  fantasy.     So  say  the  word. 

I  am  here  established  in  chambers  en  gargon,  as  I  was  eight 
years  ago.  Mary  and  the  babes  arc  at  Abinger,  and  I  go  there 
only  on  Saturdays,  returning  on  Monday  moriiiiijj:.  Tliis  arrange- 
ment is  owing  to  poor  Lady  Scarlett's  situation.  She  continues 
as  she  was— obliged  to  undergo  repeated  operations — pretty  well 
in  the  intervals,  but  these  becoming  shorter  and  shorter. 

The  Commission  goes  on  tolerably  well,  but  we  are  still 
wanting  in  energy  and  devotedness.  My  time  passes  away  as 
pleasantly  as  I  could  expect.     I  am  asked  out  a  good  deal ;  and, 


*  Mr.  Edmonston'a  portrait  of  him— now  in  the  possetiBion  of  hia  nephew, 
Sir  Qeorge  Campbell. — Ed. 

VOL  r.  20* 


474 


1.1  ri:  or  imw  camimikll. 


[1828. 

in  reality,  I  Hectii  ti)  want  Iviitiiro  aliiioHt  oji  mui'h  im  when  the 
oourUi  ore  nitting. 

Court  of  King'i  Bench,  D«o«mb«r  (1, 1821. 

Dear  Oeorok  :  —  ...  I  don't  hear  any  nown  hcyond  what 
you  rcinl  hi  the  newripapor.  I  iVuml  yi-wtt-nhiy  with  the  Duki* 
of  Oloucefttcr,  and  had  the  honor  tu  Hit  next  him,  and  to  Im)  in 
cloHC  oonventation  with  him  for  five  hourn.  lie  iH  a  great  (M>liti- 
cian  and  talks  of  nothing  hardly  except  |H)litic'»4,  Init  he  knowM 
little  more  than  you  or  I.  What  intcreitted  mo  moNt  wiut  Ium  May- 
ing that  he  had  called  in  the  morning  on  the  Duchetw  of  Kent 
and  the  PrinccMH  Victoria,  and  had  a  g<MHl  deal  of  talk  with  the 
Duchc-w  an  to  the  time  when,  and  the  manner  in  whi<-h,  the  little 
girl  should  l)e  informed  of  her  dcMtiny.  lie  myn  that  down  to 
tluM  time  nhe  has  no  notitm  that  hIic  is  to  l)o  (|ueen.  I  asked 
whether  it  was  true,  as  I  had  heard,  that  Prince  George  of  Cum- 
berland had  let  her  into  the  sirret.  lie  sai<l  the  l>oy  never  had 
had  the  opjwrt unity,  anil  that  the  Duchess  never  allows  any 
human  being  to  see  her  daughter  out  of  her  own  sight.  He  flat- 
tered me  very  nujch  by  saying:  'Camel,  I  suppose  you  would 
not  utxxipt  the  situation  of  a  puisne  judge.'  He  afterwards  pub- 
licly put  to  me  the  rpu'stion  for  which  he  is  so  famous,  '  Camel, 
what  is  your  age?*  Loi-d  Seftou's  answer  is  celebrattHl,  'Sir,  I 
am  exactly  six  months  older  than  when  your  R(»yal  Highness  last 
put  the  same  question  to  me.'  I  said :  '  >Sir,  I  am  more  than 
forty  and  less  than  fifty.'  You  would  have  thought  th6  Royal 
privilege  had  been  sufficiently  exercised,  but  he  asked:  'Are  you 
nearer  the  one  or  the  other  ? '  I  got  off  by  saying  that  I  was 
afraid  I  had  made  more  than  half  the  journey  between  the  two 
points.  He  is  rather  hostile  to  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  and, 
along  with  other  members  of  the  Royal  family,  seems  to  feel  con- 
siderable jealousy  of  the  Premier.  He  says  the  Duke  of  Clar- 
ence was  dismissed  In  a  very  arbitrary  manner,  and  that  the  Duke 
of  Wellington  did  not  communicate  to  his  colleagues  what  he 
had  done  till  above  a  week  after.  The  Duke  of  Gloucester  is  a 
much  more  sensible  nmu  than  he  has  the  credit  for  being. 


1828.] 


DiifBi  WITH  Mn.  pr.r.1., 


476 


The  OnmmiiMlni)  rather  IniiKuinhiit  nt  pnwnt,  hut  w«  nhnll  b^ 
morvi  vi){orouN  when  tli<<  holiiluvM  nrrivo.  [  hnv»  M>iit  n  net  of 
ipKfttioiiH  ti»  th(*  niHh<)|w4,  which  will  inuko  tlu'iii  cry  '  the  ('hiin'h 
lit  ill  flaiigt>r.'  I  wixh  to  n>M'ii(>  tho  luw  uf  Knf^\nm\  from  the 
ri'priHirh  nriMiii)^  troin  th«>n>  lN>iii^;  no  liniitntioii  oCtiiiii)  lut  to  tlio 
<>lniiiiM  which  nmy  Iw  M>t  up  for  tith«>M. 

I  hnvu  not  wh>ii  nnythin^  of  tho  Chan(M>IIor  nincc  th«  flrMt  <Iny 

of  term.     I  think  I  forgot  to  ncikI  you  nn  iiccoiint  of  a  fumouH 

ilinnor  \w  gnvc  \m  (the  Commifwioneni)  at  Winihle<lon  during  thu 

vunition.     There  will  tw  n  terrihlu  outcry  agaitut  the  arrears  in 

Chancery  when  Parliament  iiieetH. 

• 

New  Stroflt,  ChrittniM  Day,  1828. 

Dkar  GKOitUK: —  .  .  .  The  Chancellor  told  Scarlett  that 
iiuyley  w  going  into  the  Common  Pleati,  and  that  tho  vniunt  place 
in  the  King'n  Iknch  wuh  to  lie  offered  to  me.  Hut  my  M'titiments 
u|H)n  tho  Hubjcct  remain  unchungal,  although  my  \\o\hm  uro  faint 
of  acquiring  much  dititinction  at  the  Imr,  or  ever  having  a  l)ottcr 
offbr  than  what  I  refuse. 

New  Street,  December  20, 1828. 

...  On  Friday  I  had  tho  distinguished  honor  of  dining  with 
Mr.  Secretary  Peel,  qua  commissioner.  I  oxiH>cted  him  to  bo 
dull  and  formal,  but  I  must  own  he  was  lively  and  unaffected, 
and  very  civil  without  l)eing  condcst^nding.  He  talked  a  good 
deal  tbout  tho  new  mode  of  providing  subjects  ut  fklinburgh, 
which  he  says  is  owing  to  the  severe  sentences  of  your  judges  on 
the  resurrtjction  men,  whereby  the  price  has  been  so  much  raised. 
He  s()oke  with  great  glee  of  the  bad  fortune  and  bad  management 
of  the  Ruasians  in  their  Turkish  campaign.  »Setting  anide  tho 
Catholic  question,  he  is  quite  a  Liberal,  and  is  for  going  in  legal 
reform  quite  as  far  as  would  l>e  prudent. 

I  think  there  is  likely  to  Ikj  a  great  blow  up  soon  after  tho 
meeting  of  Parliament.  If  the  Duke  were  to  bring  forward 
Emancipation,  the  Whigs  would  all  support  his  Government ; 
but  I  do  not  believe  that  he  has  any  plan  formed,  and  they  are 


•         |i 


476 


urr,  or  i/>iin  rAMPiiu,. 


[1820. 


•Arftlfl  of  bring  Jockc^ynl  hy  him,  if  thvy  irruniii  i(iiu>t  iiiidar  pre- 
t«n<v  of  giving  him  timo  tn  '  bury  th<>  Hiihjift  iu  oblivion.' 


Court  of  KiiiK  ••  Banolt,  M»roh  3,  l«». 

Dkah  Gkoiiok;—  .  .  .  Down  to  thiM  hour  W(>thi*n>ll  wm- 
tinucM  Attorn<>y-(}«>n(>ral.  IIt>  hiut  told  tho  Dulcf  of  Wollingtim 
that  hi*  will  not  niwiiit  iu  prt'iNirliig,  luid  thut  hi'  will  not  Mup|)ort 
thu  Hill;*  but  h«  myn  to  hi^  privuti>  frii'UilM  that  hi*  will  not 
rtwign,  ami  that  ho  will  throw  tbi>  omum  of  (liMiniMHin)];  him  u|Km 
the  Govcrnnu'ut  if  they  think  Ht.  Th»  I>uk«  Iiiin  iiTtninly  •viid 
to  liortl  |{i>ri>Mfor(l  anil  othi>n«,  that  no  out'  itin  i<ontinuo  to  hold 
an  offiM)  under  f^ovi'rnmiMit  without  Hup|M)i'tin^  thi>  Mill^  and 
what  hif*  niotivi<M  or  intontionn  an*  iu  thix  |Mirtirular  iiiHtiuicv,  I 
am  at  a  low  to  (^injii'tun'.  TIiito  hax  lN>i>n  uu  foiunuinication 
tm  yet,  that  I  have  hoanl  of,  n>M|M><*tin)(  a  Hucii'Mior.  lUiuioning 
tVum  prolNibility,  ont>  would  havo  thought  that  thi*  op|)ortunity 
would  havo  Ihi'u  iMitfcrly  wixiil  to  jj;i't  rid  of  an  ini'tticieut,  and 
to  a(>|)oint  an  ofKriont  officer.  Thi'r(>  wan  a  very  Htrouf;;  report 
laHt  ni^ht  that  t(H>k  ni«  in  for  u  tinu>,  that  thu  Kiu^;  really  hiul 
rmM,  and  that  there  wax  to  Im)  no  Hill.  I  unticipatiHl  Huch  a 
oouvulNion  an  then;  han  not  lHi>n  in  thin  country  for  150  yearH. 
The  only  ditlieulty  will  be  to  kwp  the  Kinjj  Ht^'udy.  He  is  very 
much  diH[KiHC<l  to  In>  of  the  opinion  of  the  liu^t  H|H.>akcr.  Hut  ho 
muHt  be  aware  that,  if  he  were  now  to  chan)i;e  Iuh  mind,  he  uuint 
net  off  for  Hanover  directly.  There  will  Ik?  an  overwhelminjf 
majority  in  the  CommonH ;  and  in  the  liordH,  if  the  King  does 
remain  Hteady,  it  is  uaid  the  majority  will  not  Ix;  Ictw  than  Hixty. 
There  are  no  8ymptt>mM  of  tumult  in  the  metropolis.  Lord 
Eldon  will  not  be  able  to  raise  a  No  Popery  mob,  which  he 
would  l)C  very  glad  to  head. 

Stafford,  March  17,  1829. 

Dear  George  : — You  would  see  in  the  newspai)cr  the  death 
of  poor  Lady  Scarlett.     It  was  sudden  at  lost.     I  wtus  ordered 

*  Catholic  Emancipation. 


|M2!».J 

LAW  MiX'tmtm. 

•177 

not  to  tttllK'  ti 

>  town,  lint  I  ratht'i*  wWi  I 

hiMl 

Koii<%  for  T  have 

In>«>ii   vi'ry  wn'ti'h«'«l    tiiiiikin^  ol*   tin*   misiicm 

of   w«Mt  throiiK^i 

which   Mnry 

lUM  Ufii  |Hiiwiii)(  ill  Miy  uImmtiiih' 

H\w  in  now  ut 

Ahiii)i;i>r  with 

her  (uthtT.     For  ihu  liMt 

tWJ'l 

vomonth  Mh«'  has 

lM>«n  t'ntiri'iy 

ih'votfil  to  htr  |Mior  mother 

Tlii«r«  never  wm  a 

mom  pioiiM  child. 

I  hiivc  nliiMMt  cciik«hI  to  take  any  tnti^rciit  in  ptiblio  afRiini. 
Thu  Oatholic  Hill  I  ciuiKiWcr  i|iiiti)  Hcciirc.  Thcrif  in  no  lon^or 
any  ho|Kt  i»f  turning  thu  King,  ami,  thurulorv,  all  Noriuu*  o|>p(H 
nitioii  in  at  lui  ond. 


TamplA,  Augnit  31,  1829. 

My  DKAit  HiurniKit:— I  hiul  almoHt  ior)(otten  'Ht.  QWcn'n  in 
thu  FioKlM,'  hut  I  am  very  much  };ratiti(><l  inilc<>(l  to  find  that 
you  taku  Hiich  a  lively  intcrcHt  in  what  conctTiiH  mo.  It  rvally 
wan  u  coiwiiU'rahh}  victoiy.  When  I  <!oncludi><l  my  reply  there 
waM  a  n>iind  of  applauHe,  tiH  well  hm  when  the  verdict  waM  glvcD. 
1  have  Imh.'!!  rather  lucky  lately.  [  led  u  ^reut  caiiN*  in  the 
Kxche<|uer  UfpiiiMt  I)(>nman,  ami  riii(<cec<h(l ;  another  in  thu  Com- 
mon I'letih  a^aiiiNt  VVMIdc,  and  Nucc<'<ilcd  ;  an<l  this  a^uitiMt  Scar- 
lett in  the  Kin^'n  IJ<!nch  siictciih^l — all  Ix'injf  wmm  which  i 
mi^ht  have  lont  without  di.<*crc<lit.  Hut  tor  the  present  I  merely 
maintain  my  ponitioii,  and,  with  S<>arlctt  in  the  ticM,  I  amnot 
ex|M>ct  to  do  more.  F  am,  in  OctolM'i*,  to  conduct  a  ^nuit  cause, 
havin^i^  for  my  clients  all  tin;  JikI^^ch  and  h4>rjeantH-at-law.  The 
(pieHtion  in  whether  Herjeant'n  Inn,  where  they  have  their  cham- 
Ik'I'h,  Ik*  rateable  to  the  |MH»r  an  part  of  the  jmummIi  of  St.  Dun- 
MtanV.  It  \h  certainty  Hnttcriiif^  to  me  to  Im\  N(;lccted  (m  this 
occasion. 

Our  (Commission  is  all  c«)nfusion.  The  conveyanc^rH  insist  on 
l)ein)^  paid.  I  had  a  confereiKH;  U|M>n  the  subject  with  the  Chan- 
<!ellor  on  Tuesday,  and  with  Peel  on  Wednesdav.  Thev  wish 
that  all  the  convoyancei-s  shouhl  Ixj  paid,  but  there  is  a  diiH(!ulty 
in  providinj;  the  means.  I  exprcssetl  a  sincere  wish  to  act 
gratuitously.  There  is  no  pay  they  can  give  me  which  would 
adetjuately  c()in|>ciisate  me  for  the  labor  and  trouble  I  have  had, 


478 


LIFE  OF   LOUD  CAM1>U£LL. 


[1830. 


and  I  would  mthcr  have  the  crt'dit  of  nctinj!;  lilwmlly  for  the 
public  good  thuu  be  supposed  to  have  a  job  done  for  inc,  and  bo 
liable  to  Cobbett's  reproach  of  living  ujion  the  taxes.  Peel  was 
very  civil  and  spoke  highly  of  our  Rej)ort.  I  believe  he  had 
read  it  all.  I  am  sure  the  Chancellor  has  never  read  one  lino 
of  it.  lie  does  not  care  a  straw  Mhat  happens  so  that  he  keeps 
his  place,  or  rather  so  that  the  present  day  passes  over  him  with- 
out interruption  to  his  i)leasures ;  for  he  by  no  means  demeans 
himself  as  a  prudent  man  would  do  with  a  view  to  the  stability 
of  his  own  power.  He  is  as  careless  of  his  judicial  as  of  his 
political  reputation.  The  prosecutions  have  silenced  the  scan- 
dalous libels  against  him,  for  which  there  was  not  the  slightest 
foundation. 

Court  of  King's  Bonrh,  November  10, 1829. 

My  DEAR  Brother  : —  .  .  -.  The  Chancellor,  at  his  levC-e  the 
fii-st  day  of  term,  asked  me  if  I  would  like  to  Imj  a  judge.  He 
said  it  was  desimble  that  it  should  not  be  supposed  that  an  offer 
to  be  made  a  judge  was  refused,  and  he  wished  to  know  whether 
he  should  consider  me  a  candidate.  I  told  him  that  I  Iwggcd 
to  be  excused  for  the  present.  He  well  knew  my  sentiments 
before,  having  convened  on  the  subject  with  Scarlett.  He  Ixiggod 
me  to  consider  the  communication  confidential,  as  he  was  desirous 
it  should  not  be  supposed  that  a  judgeship  was  refused.  This 
was  in  reality  a  distinct  offer,  and  I  might  no  doubt  be  a  judge 
if  I  liked.  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  with  my  determination,  and 
I  shall  not  blame  myself  whatever  may  be  the  consequence. 


House  of  Lordf,  February  19, 1830. 

Dear  George  : —  .  .  .  Here  we  are  again  in  the  Tillycoul- 
try  case,  of  which  I  am  very  sick.  I  have  been  in  six  successive 
appeals  from  Scotland.  We  disposed  of  two  on  Wednesday  and 
three  yesterday,  but  the  Tillycoultry  is  a  sticker.  The  Court  of 
King's  Bench  is  now  at  Guildhall,  and  I  must  refuse  any  more. 

Ministers  are  going  on  much  better  and  are  now  likely  to  hold 


1830.] 


TIRED  OP  THE  CIllCUlT. 


479 


their  ground.  Broughiiin  says  that  A[r.  Attorney's*  defence  of 
himself  last  night  was  very  well  done  and  very  well  received. 
Brougham  is  supposed  to  have  made  ruther  an  absurd  move  from 
Winchelsea  to  Knaresborough. 

New  Street,  Wednesday  night,  March  3, 1830. 

.  .  .  i  dined  with  Peel  about  a  week  ago.  On  Sunday  I  am 
to  meet  him,  the  Chancellor,  Rosslyn,  Sir  George  Murray,  &c., 
at  Scarlett's.     A  stormy  session  is  ex])ected. 


Stafiford,  March  14, 1830. 

My  dear  Brother  : — I  am  dreadfully  sick  of  the  circuit. 
The  whole  of  this  day,  till  I  am  now  going  to  be<l,  have  I  sat 
in  my  room  alone  (with  the  exception  of  a  consultation  or  two), 
but  this  has  been  my  most  agreeable  day  since  I  hi'i  London,  I 
have  been  constantly  wrangling  with  irregular  and  undisciplined 
opponents,  before  incomjjetent  judges.  A  cause  that  ought  to 
last  a  short  hour  lasts  a  long  day,  and  I  lead  a  life  not  fit  for  a 
galley-slave.  But  as  I  am  the  first  in  point  of  business,  I  am 
no  doubt  supposed  to  be  prosperous  and  happy :  a  small  illustra- 
tion of  the  deceitfulness  of  appearances. 

The  circuit  is  the  only  thing  to  make  me  regret  being  still  at 
the  bar,  and  I  know  not  that  I  should  like  it  better  in  quality  of 
judge,  as  I  should  have  no  particle  of  pleasure  in  being  stared 
at  and  called  '  My  lord.'  I  would  rather  still  take  my  chance  at 
the  bar,  for  though  I  meet  with  much  mortification,  and  have  a 
growing  misgiving  as  to  my  own  competency,  I  do  not  yet  wholly 
despair.  What  I  should  like  above  all  things,  would  be  to  be 
in  the  House  of  C'^mmons,  and  to  bring  in  the  Bills  for  the 
improvement  of  the  law.  Let  me  hear  from  ycu.  What  do 
you  think  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington  ?  I  have  a  great  notion 
of  your  political  sagacity.  He  seems  likely  to  stand  his  ground, 
although  the  session  will  be  an  uncomfortable  one. 


*Sir  James  Scarlett,  reappointed  Attorney-General,  in  the  place  of  Sir 
Charles  Wetherell,  June  29. 1829.— Ed. 


480 


LIFE  OF   LORD  CAMPBEIJ,. 


[1830. 


Lord  RoHslyii  wan  prevented  from  coming  to  Scarlett's  dinner. 
Peel  was  very  (iivil  to  me.  I  sat  next  Horace  Twiss.  'Changed 
times,'  whisper'xl  he  to  me,  'since  you  and  I  dined  at  the  Burton 
ale-house  in  Henrietta  Street.' 


Court  of  King'n  Bench,  April  26,  1830. 

Dear  George: —  .  .  .  The  King's  illness  is  every  way 
annoying  to  us,  Scarlett  being  so  great  a  favorite.  It  is  only  a 
question  of  how  many  days  or  weeks  the  King  may  last.  When 
the  Duchess  of  Gloucester  Ment  to  see  him,  he  said  :  *  Ah  !  Mary, 
I  thought  we  should  never  meet  again.'  She  persuaded  him  to 
send  for  the  Duke  of  Clarence.  There  is  no  coldness,  but  uot 
much  intimacy  between  the  brothers.  The  Duchess  of  Glouces- 
ter is  his  favorite.  He  talked  of  still  holding  his  drawing-room, 
but  there  is  no  chance  of  his  recovery. 

The  new  reign  will  produce  no  change  in  the  Government. 
The  Duke  of  Clarence  (I  must  say)  magnanimously  forgave  the 
Duke  of  Wellington  for  turning  him  out  of  his  office  of  Lord 
Admiral.  The  danger  is  that  the  Duke  of  Clarence  will  become 
deranged  before  he  hiis  been  long  on  the  throne.  He  was  very 
nearly  upset  by  his  High  Admiralship ;  and  the  excitement  of  a 
crown  will  be  too  much  for  him  to  bear.  He  will  be  diffi(!ult 
to  manage  for,  though  very  good-natured,  he  is  fond  of  med- 
dling, and  is  very  'bizarre'  in  many  of  his  notions.  George 
IV.  is  the  model  of  a  constitutional  King  of  England !  And 
when  he  is  missed  he  may  be  mouinied.  He  ha^  stood  by  and  let 
the  coimtry  govern  itself. 

If  Mr.  Attorney  continues  in  office  he  will  receive  a  handsome 
sum  for  the  renewal  of  commissions  in  the  new  reign.  He  is 
well  acquainted  with  the  Duke  of  Clarence.  About  three  years 
ago  Jim  was  taken  to  a  ball  at  Bushey  by  one  of  the  Fitz- 
Clarences.  The  Duke  presented  him  to  the  Duchess  as  '  a  sou 
of  Scarlett,  the  leader  of  the  King's  Bench,  and  one  of  the  best 
fellows  in  England.'  The  Duchess  of  Clarence  is  a  very  res- 
pectable and  amiable  person,  and  will  adorn  her  high  rank. 
The  first  great  struggle  will  be  in  appointing  a  regency,  which 


1830.] 


ILI.NESS  OF   KINO  OEOROE   IV. 


481 


18  alwayn  done  when  the  next  heir  to  the  crown  in  a  minor.  The 
Duke  of  Cunil>orhin(l  would  Ixi  tlie  first  iK'i*Mon  to  be  thought  of, 
but  he  will  be  universally  nyected,  ex<!ept  by  a  few  ultra-Tories. 
The  difficulty  is  who  is  to  come  next.  The  Duke  of  Sussex  is 
t(.K)  much  of  a  party  man.  The  Duchess  of  Kent  with  a  council 
will  probably  i»c  appointcnl — with  a  council,  that  is  to  say, 
limitin|if  her  power  to  do  certain  acts  without  the  concurrence  of 
a  given  majority  of  the  })erson  named. 

There  has  been  a  report,  I  believe  without  the  slightest  founda- 
tion, that  the  Attorney-Gcniu'al  is  to  be  married  to  the  dowager 
Lady  Cawdor.  I  met  her  at  dinner  yesterday  at  No.  4,  with 
her  son,  who  has  been  married  these  ten  years,  and  has  seven 
or  eight  children.  But  the  dowager  is  still  very  handsome.  I 
do  not  believe  that  Scarlett  will  think  of  any  new  matrimonial 
engagci.icnt,  but  I  cannot  say  what  he  may  do.  I  am  not  much 
in  his  confidence,  although  we  go  on  very  hai  moniously,  with 
the  exception  of  an  occasional  blow-up  when  opposed  to  each 
other  at  Nisi  Prius. 


Court  of  King's  Bench,  Monday  (May  3.)  1830. 

Dear  Gkorge  : — As  you  express  an  interest  respecting  the 
poor  King,  I  send  you  confidentially  the  most  recent  intelligence 
I  have  heard  from  Windsor.  On  Saturday  the  Duchess  of 
Gloucester  was  again  there.  She  i'ound  hiju  worse  and  consid- 
erably enlntr/c(I,  She  mentioned  this  to  Sir.  W.  Knighton.  He 
said,  *Ah  !  I  thought  this  would  not  escape  you.'  The  King 
sits  up  in  bed  supported  by  pillows,  and  lie  cannot  lie  down  day 
or  night.  The  Duke  of  Gloucester  said  yesterday,  from  all  he 
had  heard  he  did  not  believe  that  his  Majesty  would  last  out  the 
week,  and  that  he  may  die  any  hour.  The  great  question  now 
agitated  is  the  Regency.  It  is  said  that  the  Duke  of  Clarence 
means  to  propose  the  Queen  Dowager,  upon  the  i)recedent  of 
1751 ;  but  the  Princess  of  Wales  wa.s  the  mother  of  the  Heir- 
apparent,  whereas  Adelaide  is  a  stranger  in  blood  to  Victoria. 

I  dined  with  a  gay  party  yesterday  at  No.  4 — Duke  of  Nor- 
folk, Lord  and  Lady  Holland,  Lord  and  Lady  King,  Lord 

VOL  I.  'il 


489 


LIFE  OF    I,(>Rr>  (  AMPHKI,!,. 


[1830. 


^rolbourno,  &v.  Lady  Hnlliuid  [»rt)lt.vssed  to  take  a  great  liking 
to  me,  and  invitetl  nie  to  her  Sunday  morning  levies.  I  have 
never  heen  a  *  tuft-huntor,'  which  I  do  not  regret.  I  might 
easily,  if  I  had  likwl,  have  l)e<'onie  a  hanger-on  at  Devonshire 
House,  at  Lansdowne  House,  and  at  Holland  House ;  I  have 
thought  it  better  to  grub  obscurely  at  chambers  in  the  Temple. 
Even  for  ultimate  success  in  the  miIoh  I  suspect  tliis  is  the  better 
course.  Tierney  used  to  say,  *  I^et  a  lawyer  mind  his  profession, 
and  if  he  rises  at  the  bar,  the  lailies  will  run  after  him.' 


Court  of  King's  Bench,  June  7, 1830,  Monday. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  The  King  is  as  ill  as  can  be. 
I  may  tell  you,  but  not  to  be  mentioned  to  anybody  whatever, 
that  when  the  Duchess  of  Gloucester  again  saw  him  he  was  very 
much  altered,  his  eye  sunk  and  glassy.  He  said  to  her,  *  Mary, 
my  mind  is  quite  composed.  I  i)elieve  in  the  great  truths  of 
our  faith.  I  have  never  intentionally  injured  anyone.  I  am 
prepared  for  what  may  happen.'  Afterwards  he  was  more 
cheerful,  and  talked  as  if  he  might  recover,  and  wliat  he  should 
do  when  he  came  to  town.  But  his  family  entertain  no  hope. 
The  people  in  general  lament  his  situation.  There  is  no  one  to 
gain  anything  by  his  death,  and  there  are  great  misgivings  as  to 
the  steadiness  of  his  successor. 

I  think  it  very  likely  that  the  Law  Reform  Bills  will  not  pass 
this  session  of  Parliament.     Our  Commission  is  doing  nothing. 

I  ought  not  to  expect  any  luck  in  public  matters,  my  domes- 
tic prosperity,  which  is  so  much  more  important,  being  so  great. 
Hally  is  the  nicest  child  of  his  age  I  ever  saw.  He  is  now  full 
of  chat  and  fun,  and  when  he  comes  down  in  the  morning  looks 
round  for  me,  and  is  quite  delighted  to  play  with  me. 

I  must  conclude,  as  I  am  going  before  a  Committee  of  the 
House  of  Commons  about  the  navigation  of  the  river  Clyde. 
This  is  odious  sort  of  business,  but  very  profitable  compared 
with  the  labor  required. 


1830.] 


DKATII   OF    KINO   OBOROK    IV. 


483 


Court  of  KingH  Bench,  Monday,  Juno  14, 1830. 

Deau  Geokok: — Thcv  say  now  that  tho  King  may  go  on 
|)os.sil)ly  Home  wifkn  or  moiitlis.  The  piiiioturitig  of  the  legs 
has  drawn  off  the  water  without  prochicing  any  immediate  ill 
consenucnce.  The  Duchess  of  (ilnucester  was  again  at  Windsor 
on  Saturday  and  found  the  King  in  v<'ry  good  apirita.  'lie 
feeb  himself  better,'  is  the  cautions  language  of  the  bulletins. 
He  said  he  exi)ected  to  W  set  up  again  in  al)out  three  weeks, 
ai  d  to  be  at  Aseot  races.  This  hope  is  (piite  delusive,  but  it 
would  seem  that  he  may  l)e  kej)t  alive  some  time.  The  Duke 
of  York  was  tap|)ed  in  October  and  lived  till  January,  and  then- 
is  a  considerable  resemblance  lietwecn  their  cases. 

Speculations  go  on,  and  factious  are  forming  for  a  Regency. 

Mary  and  I  went  to  Holland  House  yesterday.  The  circle 
was  very  brilliant.  Her  Majenty  was  seated  on  her  throne,  a 
pony  chaise  on  the  lawn,  and  there  she  received  her  subjects  who 
came  to  be  presented  or  to  i>ay  their  respects.  It  was  a  much 
more  formidable  ceremony  than  going  to  kiss  the  King's  hand. 
There  was  a  great  munber  of  ladies  present,  of  the  fii'st  rank 
and  most  scrupulous  demeanor.  However,  I  shall  not  go  again 
for  a  twelvemonth,  although  we  had  a  very  gracions  reception 
and  the  whole  went  oft'  very  agreeably. 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  Monday,  Juno  21, 1830. 

My  dear  Brother  : —  ...  Scarlett  sat  half-an-hour  with 
the  Duchess  of  Gloucester  yesterday.  She  told  him  that  she  was 
going  down  to  Windsor  to-day,  and  that  she  never  expects  to 
see  the  King  after  this  visit.  His  strength  sinks  I'apidly,  so  that 
if  he  does  not  go  oft'  suddenly,  which  may  happen  any  hour,  his 
sufferings  cannot  be  much  longer  protracted. 

Nothing  is  certainly  known  of  the  new  reign,  but  it  is  under- 
stood that  it  ■will  begin  without  any  change.  Peel  declares  him- 
self so  disgusted  with  the  House  of  Commons,  that  it  is  doubtful 
whether  he  will  sit  there  again. 

I  was  yesterday  shut  up  above  eleven  hours  with  the  Com 
missioners  preparing  the  second  Report,  which  will  now  be  pre- 


484 


MFK  OP  LORD  CAMPBFJ-L. 


[1830. 


sontctl  in  a  day  or  two.  I  fear  there  is  no  eliant-c  of  my  In-inR 
able  to  get  to  any  diHtance  front  London  dnrin)^  the  vacation. 
Parliament  is  sure  to  Ixj  dissolved  in,  or  la'fore,  .Septcnilx-r,  and 
I  must  try  to  wind  up  the  ConunisHion. 


Tf-rnjile,  Siitunlay,  June  ill,  ISHO. 

Dear  George: — I  supiwse  some  way  or  other  the  death  of 
George  IV.  will  have  reached  you  iK'fore  this.*  Mary  was  a 
long  while  with  the  Duchess  of  Gloucester  yesterday,  and  heard 
from  her  that  the  event  was  almost  hourly  expected.  The  Duch- 
ess seemed  very  nm(!h  affected.  She  took  leave  of  the  Kinjif  at 
her  last  visit  but  one,  which  she  descriluid  as  the  most  melancholy 
day  of  her  life.  At  her  last  visit  he  was  rather  better,  but  was 
quite  aware  of  his  situation.  The  Duchess  said,  ti'uly^  that  it  was 
rather  to  Ikj  regretted  for  himself,  for  his  family,  and  for  the  king- 
dom, that  his  sufferings  have  been  so  long  protracted.  I  have  just 
parted  with  Currey,  who  learned  from  the  Duke  of  Gloucester 
the  following  particulars,  not  of  much  interest,  but  perhaps  worth 
mentioning.  The  King's  dropsical  symptoms  had  in  a  great 
measure  disappeared  when  the  pulmonary  complaint  came  on. 
This  retluced  him  very  much,  but  he  retained  his  faculties  entire 
to  the  last.  Soon  after  three  this  morning  he  expressed  a  desire 
to  be  moved.  He  then  said  he  felt  a  very  odd  sensation  and 
asked  if  it  was  death.  He  was  carried  into  a  chair,  and  Sir 
Henry  Halford  was  called  from  an  adjoining  room.  He  could 
only  say  '  Sir  Henry.'  In  about  ten  minutes  he  expired.  Sir 
Henry  went  first  to  Bushey.  The  new  King  desired  him  to  let 
the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Gloucester  know  what  had  happened, 
that  he  expected  to  see  the  Duke  at  the  Council,  and  that  the 
Duchess  should  come  down  to  Bushey,  where  the  Duke  wtis  to 
join  her  at  five.  Sir  Henry  proceeded  to  Glouces*^.-i-  i  <wuse,  and 
next  to  the  Duke  of  Wellington's.  The  Duke  of  Gloucester 
soon  after  received  a  letter  from  Peel,  announcing  the  King's 
death,  and  requiring  his  attendance  at  the  Council. 


*Hedied  June  26,1830. 


1830.] 


ACCKWilON   OF   KINO    WILLIAM   IV. 


486 


The  Council  met  about  twelve,  the  new  King  having  come  to 
town.  The  Privy  Councillors  swore  allegiance  to  William  IV., 
doing  awuv  with  the  Hilly  report  that  he  was  to  style  himself 
Henry  IX.  An  onlcr  has  been  signed  for  the  Proclamation 
(this  I  know  from  Scarlett,  who  was  present),  and  the  streets  are 
now  crowded  with  people  waiting  to  see  the  ceremony.  His 
Majesty  returns  to  Bushey  to  dinner.  Nothing  is  known  of  the 
measures  of  the  new  reign.  It  is  supposed  that  the  Duke  of 
Wellington  will  retain  his  power,  but  he  must  share  it  with 
others.  The  King's  death  is  rather  opportune ;  for  I  do  not  see 
how  Ministei*s  could  have  gone  on  for  a  fortnight  longer.  It  is 
expected  that  the  business  of  the  session  will  l)e  huddled  over, 
and  then  will  come  the  dissolution.  We  shall  soon  see  how  the 
cat  jumps.  Unless  I  come  in  ingloriously  for  a  government 
borough,  I  see  no  chance  for  myself.  Seat«  are  said  to  be  scarcer 
and  dearer  than  ever  known:  jClSOO  a  year,  or  £6000  taking 
all  chances. 


END  OP  voUb. 


